Watching Mama Natural Videos Helped Heatherly During Her Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I was 5 days past my due date so my doctor chose to induce.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

The absolutely most challenging part of the birth was trying to push in the “hospital” position on my back with legs in stirrups. I was physically and mentally exhausted from pushing in this position that I was starting to hope that the doctor was going to turn this birth into a C-section because I understood the directions I was receiving but I was unable to actually perform them ( pulling legs toward me , while crunching up and forward , timing it with the contraction, without blowing out the breath that I took in to start, and keeping my eyes open so that the doctor knew I was concentrating because when I closed my eyes he told me when my eyes were closed that I was going into a meditative state instead of staying in an active state ) .

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

Thankfully I watched the mama natural videos so I knew I had an option of pushing from a “squatting” position. I asked to come off my back to push and they told me I had to do this from my back. I told them I wanted to squat. They were reluctant but they eventually succumbed to my preference. I pushed for an hour and a half.

What surprised you about your birth?

I was surprised by how quick I went from not feeling any contractions that the computers were proving that I was having to all of a sudden feeling like I had no control over my body from the waist down. I was in labor for 10 hours before I felt anything but when I finally felt it I was begging for drugs . Thank goodness my nurse was aware that it was important to me to do this naturally because they ignored me when I was screaming for an epidural.

I felt like superwoman, it was overwhelming and emotional

What pain relief strategies worked best?

I was counting 1 “one thousand,“ 2 “one thousand”, 3 etc thru the waves of contractions. I would whisper to myself “This too shall pass” and “BREATHE, just FOCUS and BREATHE”

What position did you end up delivering in?

I was told I had to return to my back for the delivery once the doctor could see the head

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

I felt like superwoman, it was overwhelming and emotional

How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?

I had never seen a birthing video in my life. It was helpful to watch all the different experiences . Each week was an eye opener with plenty of information from the hosts. It was nice to hear the men’s side as well. I have recommended these videos to at least 3 pregnant women already.