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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I started having mild contractions and the "bloody show" had started as well.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
My labor was very long (about 21 hours). It took so long for things to progress and I mentally started to struggle and thought at one point that u wouldn't be able to have an all natural labor, especially when the contractions intensified without much progress being made.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I stayed active throughout my entire pregnancy (walking, yoga, light weightlifting) and while staying active didn't make my labor easy, it definitely provided me with the strength and stamina to get through 21 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How long it took! I was also surprised to learn that my baby was posterior and that's partly why labor and delivery was more difficult. The whole experience was surreal!
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Holding my baby for the first time was the greatest moment of my life. I couldn't believe he was finally here and that he was mine.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I had back labor, so during my more mild contractions, a warm compress with frankincense essential oil on my back helped a lot. I also labored in the tub but got out when it was time to push.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on my back in the hospital bed and had my nurse hold one leg and my husband holding the other during pushes.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
The plan was to have skin to skin time as soon as he was born, but because of the stressful delivery, the nursing staff had to take him right away as he was in a little bit of shock. They did let me hold him briefly before they had to take him away again to be monitored. Holding my baby for the first time was the greatest moment of my life. I couldn't believe he was finally here and that he was mine.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
What helped me go natural was making the decision to do it. At first I was wishy washy whenever someone asked about my plans to go natural versus having an epidural. My initial response was that I was going to try to go all natural. I changed my mindset to tell people (and myself) that yes, I'm definitely having a natural birth. Of course I knew things could change for whatever reason,but that I would handle it as it happened. In moments of doubt, I would repeat to myself in my head the reasons I was choosing a natural childbirth. That really helped me to stay focused and not choose drugs when I was starting to mentally waver.
