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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I am a first time mom and so I wasn't sure what labor would feel like. On Nov 2nd, I woke up about 2am with cramping in my low back, which felt very similar to bad period cramps. It wasn't until a couple of hours later that I realized the cramps were coming and going every few minutes. But after several hours the cramps went away. I labored on and off two more times throughout the day. About 6pm that same day the cramps returned. I tried to go to bed that night but couldn't sleep through the cramps because they were becoming sharper in pain and the pain started to radiate out from my low back. That's when I realized that I was truly in labor.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part about going natural was keeping calm and focused. This was my first birth and the pain and unknown was frightening.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing I did to prepare for childbirth was to talk to other moms about their childbirth experiences. I knew I didn't want an epidural and found it inspiring to talk to moms who had natural births. I also found that most moms that had epidurals were quite negative towards my goals of a natural childbirth and so I didn't discuss childbirth with them. I researched different childbirth classes and my husband and I decided to take Mama Natural's childbirth class. We both enjoyed the class and it mentally prepared us for the challenges and rewards of natural childbirth. I also read and watched a lot of natural childbirth stories that I found extremely inspiring.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Looking back at my natural childbirth, what surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed the experience. Natural childbirth was an incredible bonding experience for my husband and I. I can't describe in words how special and amazing the experience was. My husband was a huge part of my labor and I wouldn't have kept my calm and focus if it weren't for my husband coaching me thru every contraction and every push. I wouldn't do future childbirths any other way.
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There are no words to describe the overwhelming love at first sight I felt for my baby. And there are no words to describe the feeling of holding my freshly born baby against my bare chest. It's bringing me to tears now as I write this.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
In the heat of the moment, my husband and I forgot about some of the natural pain relief strategies we learned in our childbirth class. Luckily, I had thoroughly discussed my birthing plan with my midwife prior to going into labor. She knew I wanted her to coach my husband and I in natural pain relief. What I found to be the most helpful was to get out of bed. Standing up and leaning on my husband was helpful for a while. Eventually my midwife got me in the shower and my husband sprayed me with hand held sprayer. During contractions the pain was so intense that I was unable to hear my husband's words unless his forehead was against my forehead. Then I could hear his encouragement and follow his breathing. I then labored on the toilet for a while, all the while my husband's forehead pressed against my forehead during every contraction. I had to have him as my focal point, it made the pain easier to bare.
I also went into labor knowing that you had to live in the moment and live one contraction at time. I would tell myself that this is just a moment in time and that I am strong enough. I would tell myself that this is how God designed our bodies and that this too shall pass.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I surprisingly gave birth laying on my back in a hospital bed. I was too exhausted to do much else. The benefit of laboring on your back in bed is that you can lay back and relax between contractions. I would even doze off a bit between contractions.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
There are no words to describe the overwhelming love at first sight I felt for my baby. And there are no words to describe the feeling of holding my freshly born baby against my bare chest. It's bringing me to tears now as I write this.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
The Mama Natural birth class helped mentally prepare myself for the challenges of labor. The class also educated me on different interventions and how best to deal with them. Because of this class, I was able to discuss my natural birth plan with my hospital midwife in detail. I also think because of how educated I was about natural birth, my midwife took my birth plan seriously and she helped keep me strong when I was 9.5 cm dilated and lost all sense of reason.
I can remember one of the nurses suggesting to my midwife that she give me pitocin. I was resting between pushes at this point and had been pushing for about 45 minutes. The midwife told the nurse that it's in my birth plan not to get pitocin and she didn't give it to me either! I only pushed for an hour and 6 minutes and that nurse wanted to give me pitocin after only 45 minutes of pushing. Later, that nurse told me she had never seen a birth without pitocin or an epidural. Mama Natural's childbirth class help educate my husband and I on different interventions so that we could make educated decisions. Lastly, this birth class helped educate my husband with his role during labor and how to coach me.
