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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up at 1:30am on that warm June day wondering if the cramping in my abdomen was yet another false signal. After having Braxton Hicks and nausea for the past three weeks, I was suspicious that it wasn't the "real thing". I left the bedroom I shared with my husband in order to relax better on the couch in our living room and not disturb his sleep. Once I'd grabbed a snack and some water, I downloaded a contraction timer on my phone and began following my contractions. Sure enough, they were already 3 minutes apart and about 30 seconds long.
Although I had been in labor with my first child before, I was in denial still despite their intensity because with my first I had labored for 17 hours. It had been a gradual build up of lengthening contractions and certainly not this sudden starting of labor in the middle of the night. I had no signals typical of beginning labor the day before except more pressure in my pelvis making me need to run to the bathroom more frequently, but I'd dismissed it as normal pregnancy signs.
Once an hour of these contractions had gone by I guessed I should wake my husband and went to do so. I called my home midwife after he suggested I let her know what was going on, since she was a two hour drive away, and she advised me to try a warm bath to see if my contractions continued.
Sure enough, the warm bath didn't stop the contractions and the pain was growing, so the midwife headed my direction and I began to admit I was truly in labor!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I had been in labor much longer with my first child, my son, but this second labor (a daughter this time) was much more intense, more quickly, than my son.
My labor began at 1:30am and I had my daughter at 6:50am. When my midwife arrived to my home, she asked to check me and I agreed---thinking I had many more hours of this difficult back labor to go! Instead, my midwife told me I as fully effaced and dilated and I could even push if I wanted to. I was surprised but glad that I didn't have hours more of labor, as I was already bent over on all fours shouting for my husband to massage my back every contraction because the waves of pain were already so great. The midwife was only present for 1 hour of my labor, including my 15 minutes of pushing, before I had my daughter.
Although a faster labor seemed challenging to me because it was so much more intense, quicker, than my son's had been, I was incredibly grateful after it was over.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
One of the helpful things I used that I hadn't heard about until my sister mentioned it was using a TENS unit. The unit is a small handheld electronic device that has electrodes attached to it, which stick to your back on pasted pads and deliver small "shocks" to help you in labor and contractions. The TENS unit my sister and I purchased and split the cost on (she was also pregnant) was specifically designed for laboring and prenatal care and recommended online by midwives.
I actually used the TENS unit almost my entire labor and I felt it delivered a lot of help for my back pain, which along with my husband massaging my back, assisted me getting through long contractions.
One other thing that Mama Natural actually advised me which I took to heart was eating dates to encourage a quicker labor. At around 37 weeks I began eating dates daily, and although I have no full scientific proof if it truly contributed to my fast labor, I like to think it did!
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was pleasantly surprised by my quick labor. I had always hoped for a quicker labor than my first, but since my son was born prematurely and very small (4 lb 8 oz), I was told by my midwife a larger full term baby might be harder to give birth to. My daughter was born one day after her due date at 6 lb 10 oz, but I will admit that my midwife was wrong! My labor with a full term baby was much easier for me, and even my recovery was faster. I had significant swelling from my son after his birth, partially because I pushed over an hour, whereas I pushed with my daughter about 15 minutes. I had no tearing and I also had a much quicker delivery of my placenta, a thing that had concerned my previous midwife with my son's birth.
I was overall very surprised but happy with my 2nd birth.
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If you are determined to have a natural labor don't let others discourage you from attempting it and being informed.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
My husband massaging my back, an exercise ball to lean on, and my TENS unit. I also allowed myself to make lots of noise, mostly moaning, but I tried to keep my face and body relaxed when I felt myself tensing.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Although I was on all fours during most of my labor, when I got close to pushing my midwife suggested I lie on my back so she could assist me with the birth (helping open things a little while I pushed). My head was on a pillow in my husband's lap. I wasn't entirely happy being on my back to deliver as I'd delivered squatting with my son, and it felt much more comfortable to be on all fours this time, but since the midwife felt it would be more helpful, I agreed. It ended up being quick anyway.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I was relieved the pain was over. I felt incredibly shaky, but I was very glad.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Women throughout the world, over ages, have given birth naturally. When I determined to have both of my children naturally, I read up on a lot of pain relief techniques and methods to get through labor, but for me the thing that made natural birth possible was a supportive husband, midwife, and a comfortable setting, my home, which didn't have any pressures for interventions.
Natural labor is (obviously!) very possible, and rewarding (and less expensive too sometimes!). If you are determined to have a natural labor don't let others discourage you from attempting it and being informed.
