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When did you realize you were really in labor?
The day before I was 41 weeks pregnant I went in for a doctor’s appointment. She stripped my membranes and checked me. Baby was head down and she said I was 3cm dilated and 50% effaced. I was really hoping to get things moving along so when I went home I mixed castor oil into mango juice and gulped it down. It took about an hour and a half, then I started having mild but consistent contractions every 5 minuets. This lasted the rest of the afternoon and early evening. I decided to go to bed at 11 and figured when I was in real labor it would wake me up. At 12:30 I heard and felt a “pop”. It surprised me so I jumped out of bed. When I stood up, I had a gush of water run down my legs. We live 45 minuets from the hospital so we decided it was time to go.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part of going natural is not knowing how long labor is going to last. The longer it goes, the harder it is to have the energy and determination to stick to your birth plan. That’s when your support system really helps.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
This is my second birth and the most dramatic difference I noticed this time around was that I had almost no tearing and a much faster recovery. Something I did differently this time around, was taking evening primrose oil. I believe it helped soften my cervix and helped me stretch instead of tear.
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What surprised you about your birth?
This birth was so much faster and easier than my first birth. With my first baby I was 42 weeks and 5 days and I ended up being induced. My labor lasted 14 hours and although I was able to deliver naturally, it wasn’t an easy birth since he was sunny side up so it took 2 hours of pushing before he was born. My second baby came much faster. My water broke at 12:30 AM and he was born at 2;5 AM after one push!
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Fear is the worst enemy in childbirth and it’s very easy to be afraid of the unknown. The more informed you are, the more confident you will be.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
With my first baby I used a TENS unit which really helped with back labor. I also utilized a yoga ball and really tried to focus on pushing into the contractions by moaning deeply and mentally telling my body to open. The other thing that really helped both times was using nitrous oxide (laughing gas). I liked having the ability to focus and breathe deeply during my contractions and being in control of when to administer the nitrous.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back both times.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was incredible to push my baby out, grab him as he was being born and pull him up to my chest immediately. The feelings of euphoria and relief were so amazing.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
The best thing you can do is be prepared and very well informed. Fear is the worst enemy in childbirth and it’s very easy to be afraid of the unknown. The more informed you are, the more confident you will be. I can’t recommend Ina May Gaskins book ”Guide to Childbirth” highly enough. It has so many positive accounts of natural birth stories that will encourage you. If these strong amazing women can do it, than I can too! The other helpful exercise I recommend trying throughout your whole pregnancy is choosing to be intentional in your thoughts and speech in regards to labor. If you make/think positive statements like “I’m not afraid, I know my body was designed for this,” then you will go into labor with the confidence to accomplish your goal of a natural birth. Don’t doubt yourself, but instead choose to believe that you can do it!
