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Video Interview With Ashley
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When did you realize you were really in labor?
All I asked for was to have my Passover Seders and the little man listened. He was due on 4/16/22 but came into the world two days later. As a First Time Mom, I had no idea what contractions felt like but began feeling “pressure” around 6 pm on 4/17, Sunday night. I ate dinner as normal, enjoyed an evening with my husband and cousin (who happens to be my doula), and even insisted on going out for fro-yo at 9:30 that night. By 11 pm, I realized that the pressure sensations were not the baby just moving, and were actual contractions! They started coming in strong and 6 minutes apart. By 5 am they were consistently 4 minutes apart and the midwife on-call gave us the okay to come to the birth center.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Natural Birth Center Birth story
💙 April 18th, 2022 💙
All I asked for was to have my Passover Seders and the little man listened. He was due on 4/16/22 but came into the world two days later. As a FTM I had no idea what contractions felt like but began feeling “pressure” around 6 pm on 4/17, Sunday night. I ate dinner as normal, enjoyed an evening with my husband and cousin (who happens to be my doula), and even insisted on going out for fro-yo at 9:30 that night. By 11 pm, I realized that the pressure sensations were not the baby just moving, and were actual contractions! They started coming in strong and 6 minutes apart. By 5 am they were consistently 4 minutes apart and the midwife on-call gave us the okay to come to the birthing center.
I received an IV drip for about a half hour for GBS… I did not enjoy this.
I had intense hip and back labor, despite baby being LOA, because he was curved in towards my hip. Hip counter pressure was the only way I could handle the pain. My poor husband and doula got such an arm workout after supporting me all morning.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I took several birth courses, including my Mama Natural Birth Course, of course! Watching their birth stories helped me mentally be prepared for my own birth story. I really enjoyed taking my Spinning Babies course, which helped me with mobility and positioning of my baby prior to labor. It also assisted me during labor during my back/ hip pain. I’m so glad that I prepared my husband for labor, too. He took the classes with me and was mentally prepared to be an excellent birth partner!
Lastly, I feel that my goal to move, stretch and walk every day of my pregnancy truly helped me be physically ready!
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What surprised you about your birth?
The actual sensations were surprising, as I had no idea what contractions would feel like. I also am so surprised with how focused the human body becomes during childbirth; all I remember thinking is LET’S DO THIS! I was afraid that I would feel scared once I would go into labor, and in reality, I did not feel fear, whatsoever. Lastly, I am so surprised with how much control I personally felt with my pushes; because I let my body take control during active labor and pushing, I feel that this is why I didn’t tear. I’m so grateful!
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The best advice that I can give mamas is to learn about their rights and to advocate for them!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The best pain relief strategy that worked for me was the counterpressure that my doula and husband provided during contractions. I also benefited from having my “oxytocin” reminders of pictures and encouraging words placed all over my birth center room.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Holding my baby for the first time felt like an out-of-body experience. I always thought that I wanted to be a mother, but I didn’t KNOW that I needed to be a mom until I held him for the very first time. I felt so empowered to know that I actually grew this being all by myself and I was so proud to know that I actually brought him into this world now, too!
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What did you name your baby, and why?
We named our baby Grant Benjamin. In the Jewish religion, we recognize those who have left us by naming our babies after them. My Grandfather George was a strong, important patriarch of my family. My husband’s Grandmother Bobbi was someone who will forever be extremely important to him. We are so happy to be about to think of them every time we say our first child’s name.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
The best advice that I can give mamas is to learn about their rights and to advocate for them! Mentally prepare yourself with all that can occur on your birth-day, discuss your options and plan with your birth partner, and then write a birth plan! It never hurts to know as much as possible and to feel empowered with that knowledge!
