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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up about 2:30 am with stomach pains. I had two BMs and went back to bed. I kept waking up with the same pains and realized it wasn’t my stomach, but more like period cramps. I started timing them about 4:30 am and texted my doula. They were about 9-10 minutes apart and that is when I realized that I was probably in early labor!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Not knowing when the contractions would end and how long I would be in labor for. Towards the end of my labor I kept asking how much longer and Ben would I know when to push. The nurses and my doula told me I would know, but being a first time mom I didn’t believe them. Suddenly the contractions shifted and I felt the urge to push, finally!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The mama natural birth course and hiring a doula. I also think that listening to and reading other natural birth stories helped tremendously. Trying ways other mamas coped with the pain during my labor got me through it.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That it was 19 hours long! Once I was in labor land I had no idea what time it was or how long I’d been in labor. I was surprised to find out it was 19 hours long and I only pushed for an hour!
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The Mama Natural birth class helped us to make informed decisions on our birth plan and decide which interventions we wanted for our baby.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Deep breathing and horse lips. After those didn’t work anymore, I had to do deep moaning through each contraction. Also counter pressure on my lower back and hips was a life saver!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Hands and knees on the Hospital bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It felt wonderful and so surreal! I couldn’t believe she was finally here!
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
The Mama Natural birth class helped us to make informed decisions on our birth plan and decide which interventions we wanted for our baby. It also helped persuade us to get a doula, which I am very happy that we did!
