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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had been having contractions for several hours in the evening on the 26th, but I wasn't convinced they were real contractions. I figured it was practice labor. They were kinda painful and time-able but in the last that wasn't necessarily labor for me. They tapered off and I went to bed, but at about 2:30 AM I woke to contractions again. After a couple hours of very intense painful contractions, I finally decided to ring my midwife.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
This time around the most challenging aspect was getting past the idea of pushing. My previous labor involved terrible pelvic pain while pushing and my tailbone was very bruised afterward. The pain was similar coming onto the final stage of labor this time so I knew I was in for the same experience, only this time I was at home, not a hospital, and I knew that there was no pressure to push when I didn't feel like pushing which helped. Once I finally accepted the fact that I would need to push eventually and I was tired of being in labor, baby came within about 20 min! But I sat for 2 hours at 10 cm till my brain was in an OK place to continue.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I watched tons of home birth videos, read blogs, and just generally learned from others experience. I asked my midwife many questions as well, and ate lots of dates!
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What surprised you about your birth?
The most surprising thing about this birth was the relaxed atmosphere of it compared to birthing my first. My midwife was perfectly willing to do things however I wanted. I was allowed to eat. I was allowed time to mentally be ready to push my baby out, not just physically. I had a personal relationship with my care person as opposed to a professional relationship with Dr's and nurses. I was also surprised at how much pressure was relieved when my water broke during pushing. My pain level went from 10 to 2. Another surprise was the ring of fire. I felt very dry, almost chapped as he was crowning and I thought for sure I was gonna tear! But thankfully no tears happened!
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You have to make up your mind about it. You can't have any doubt's about what you want.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The best pain relief I found was to sit on my couch and put all my weight against my own hands on my back. It was easier to apply pressure myself because I knew exactly where and how much to do.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I delivered laying on my right side on my bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It felt absolutely amazing. There is never a more wonderful moment that holding a freshly "squeezed" baby. And most people would think it is yucky to touch an unwashed newborn but when you are in the moment, there's nothing icky about it at all.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You have to make up your mind about it. You can't have any doubt's about what you want. If you leave room in your mind to consider intervention, such as pain meds, you will likely give in when it gets tough. Look at other peoples positive birth stories. Looking into pain coping techniques. And know and accept that birth is intense and painful. There's no escaping it. When you accept that you will have pain and then allow your body to work, you have that much more of a chance to succeed in a natural birth.
