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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was with my husband cleaning out a storage room and we noticed my "Braxton Hicks" contractions coming pretty frequently. We began timing them and they were consistently 4-6 minutes apart for 2 hours.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Contractions got really close together and intense in the last hour before pushing and it felt like I suddenly forgot everything I knew. That was when multiple hospital staff came in the room and started asking me a lot of questions to prepare for the delivery. I couldn't coherently respond to anyone at that point!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
My husband and I took a Bradley childbirth course, I discussed my birth plan in depth with my provider long before birth and hired a Doula. My Doula was amazing!
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was pleasantly surprised at how accommodating and encouraging most of the hospital staff were.
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Discuss your birth plan in depth with your provider throughout the pregnancy and be willing to make compromises when issues arise. You need to be on the same page!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Counter pressure on my hips, hanging on my husband and moaning during contractions.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I did almost all of the pushing squatting with a squatting bar. Right as he began to crown the staff had me lay back and pull my legs back so they could catch him.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Holding my son for the first time was surreal. I couldn't believe he was really here!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Discuss your birth plan in depth with your provider throughout the pregnancy and be willing to make compromises when issues arise. You need to be on the same page! Also get a good Doula. I couldn't have done it without mine.
