-
When did you realize you were really in labor?
With this being my second natural home birth, I thought for sure I would know when I was in labor. This was not the case, and it was very different from my first one. Just goes to show each pregnancy, labor and birth are unique and can't be put under a "title" of what's normal. I knew it was for sure when I couldn't sleep through the contractions and I just wanted in the warm birth pool!
-
What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The response from people when you tell them you are having a natural home birth, and you haven't found out the gender of your baby. Its just not the norm, and people think you're strange.
-
1212161746_HDR_Film1
-
What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Relying on God, and believing He created my body to have babies. Plus becoming informed about the process and getting as much info from my midwife.
-
What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly everything seemed to happen. My first birth was 7 hours and this one was under 5 hours. Seemed like the birth pool had just been filled then there she was! My beautiful, 9 lb 14oz baby girl, surprise!
-
Stick with it, relax, as much as possible and have confidence your body was designed to labor and birth. Listen to moms who have done it naturally. Glean as much knowledge as you can from them.
-
What pain relief strategies worked best?
Warm water in the birth pool, and different positions. And when I could, sleep. Practicing to relax and let go so my body can labor with out my tensing interfering. Low throat sounds.
-
What position did you end up delivering in?
My husband supported me in a reclined almost a squat in the birth pool.
-
How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I love being able to reach down and pick my baby up out of the water and hold them on my chest while waiting for the umbilical cord to give them every extra ounce and then stop pulsing. No interference from any one. Such and overwhelming sense of relief and achievement and immediate attachment to that precious little one. And then finding out if its a girl or boy!
-
What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Stick with it, relax, as much as possible and have confidence your body was designed to labor and birth. Listen to moms who have done it naturally. Glean as much knowledge as you can from them.
