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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was watching Castaway and eating Chinese food with my husband and my water broke after having irregular contractions.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The pushing phase. This was my third birth and my biggest baby.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I prayed for the birth experience I was wanting and I allowed myself to feel any emotions I needed to leading up to my birth. If I was afraid, I let myself be afraid until I wasn’t anymore.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quiet and peaceful it was. After two natural hospital births, the experience of a home birth is so much more peaceful and calm. I was quiet until it was time to push and I never got to that point of “I can’t do this anymore”.
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If you can have a home birth, go for it! It was so worth it for me and so many other mamas I know. It is seriously the most peaceful and comfortable place to deliver your baby. And if you find a wonderful Midwife, they are definitely the best support you could ask for!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The birth pool. It made the contractions so much less intense and the warm water was very soothing overall.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I couldn’t get food traction in the birth pool so I moved to my bed and delivered him on my hands and knees.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Pretty amazing! He needed some help getting his breathing going so when he was crying in my arms I was elated.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
If you can have a home birth, go for it! It was so worth it for me and so many other mamas I know. It is seriously the most peaceful and comfortable place to deliver your baby. And if you find a wonderful Midwife, they are definitely the best support you could ask for!