-
When did you realize you were really in labor?
I laid down in bed to see if the contractions I was feeling would subside or not. After about an hour they started to become uncomfortable and I started to have to breath through them. That's when I knew this was real labor.
-
What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Holding out and listening to my gut about not being induced. My OB was great but he still was urging for an induction at 41 weeks, even though the non-stress tests showed baby was doing great and so was I. We went so far as agreeing to the induction, but because my husband and I completed the mama natural birth course I knew to ask for my Bishop Score first, before they started the pitocin. It was only a 3! We decided then that neither I nor my baby were ready and we went home from the hospital. I just knew that if we forced him to come that we were just inviting all other kinds of interventions. A week later at 42 +1 he came on his own and quickly! Less than 3 hours of labor and only 5 pushes!
-
28701402_1632298320152829_48815841249921516_o
-
What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Taking the Mama Natural birth course with my husband, reading birth affirmation cards and hiring a doula! was committed to having a VBAC and a natural one and those 3 things helped me make it happen!
-
What surprised you about your birth?
How absolutely amazing I felt afterwards. This is our 4th baby and my 3rd pregnancy. My first was a long, long labor and I had pitocin which made it so much harder and my second was twins via c-section. I felt so exhausted and emotional after those 2 births that I was expecting a lot of the same. This birth, while very intense, was short and my recovery was terrific. Thanks to going natural and having my placenta encapsulated I recovered like a dream and it made this birth everything I dreamed it could be.
-
It helped to start the conversation about interventions between me and my husband so that we were on the same page. It empowered me to be my own advocate and even though this wasn't my first birth, it helped as a great review of the birthing process and things to consider from evidence based research.
-
What pain relief strategies worked best?
Low moaning, horse lips
-
What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back.
-
How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Euphoric!
-
How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
It helped to start the conversation about interventions between me and my husband so that we were on the same page. It empowered me to be my own advocate and even though this wasn't my first birth, it helped as a great review of the birthing process and things to consider from evidence based research.
