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When did you realize you were really in labor?
After I woke up from a nap. The contractions woke me up.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
It's just mental. This is my second natural birth and I knew what I want and why I wanted it. But with this pregnancy i was in prodromal labor for 6 weeks and I was having a hard time dealing with the constant contractions for 6 weeks.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Watch the Business of Being Born almost everyday or when I was struggling with prodromal labor and wanted to give up.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it happened. My first born was 36 hours but this one was less than 6 hours. My midwife told me to take a nap and i did with waking up to active labor. After my husband and I start timing the contractions we called my midwife to come to the house. They were 40 min away. When they got to my house I couldn't talk and 30 minutes after they arrived my son was in my arms. If I didn't call them the time I did we would of fm delivered him on our own.
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I was so happy to hold him after 41 weeks. I was told years ago we weren't able to have children and here I am holding my second son and both I had naturally outside of the hospital. I was extremely emotional.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Focusing on each contraction as an individual progress to getting closer to holding my son. I allowed each contraction to guide me and tried not focus on the pain.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
In the bed with legs up. I don't know the technical name.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Emotional. I was so happy to hold him after 41 weeks. I was told years ago we weren't able to have children and here I am holding my second son and both I had naturally outside of the hospital. I was extremely emotional.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Research, that would definitely help you make the right decision for both you and baby. Watch The Business of Being Born, read any of Ina May Gaskins books, find a birth center/midwife that can help guide you and your family.
