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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Not until the very last minute! I had had a few barely noticeable contractions throughout the day, and began to mentally prepare myself for labor coming soon. I sat down to eat a healthy dinner (intentionally fueling up), but two bites in I had a very strong contraction that took my breathe away. I thought that was strange and got up to go pee, when another contraction hit me so strongly that I actually lifted myself up and knew it was time to call the Intended Parents (I was a surrogate carrying a baby for another couple!). I quickly texted our babysitter and the IP's, but it would go very quickly and the baby was born ten minutes later at home. (We were planning to go to the hospital! Oops!)
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The intensity. My labor went so quickly that I went from zero to 100 extremely quickly, and I knew the intensity would take me over if I let it, so I had to center myself and really dig deep to find the strength to remain calm.
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baby-iz
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Yoga!! But not necessarily the physical asana practice- the breath work and meditation practice I have maintained for years was absolutely essential in keeping me calm and present. It was such a gift!
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What surprised you about your birth?
I don't know if it was necessarily a surprise, because I knew I could do it, but it was pretty amazing to see how smoothly birth happens when you are completely unassisted. My husband and I worked together beautifully to gently bring the baby earthside and looking back it was incredible to see how much of the birth was about breathing and just letting instinct take over. I didn't consciously choose my birthing position or get told when to push.. it all happened when and how my body told it to happen!
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It was incredible, but unique, because this was not my baby! I felt like this little baby and I had worked together to bring her here to meet her parents. Everything they had been through to bring this baby home had finally come to an end, and I felt like the baby was just as eager to meet them for the first time as they were to meet her.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing and groaning. When the baby moved down and I went into transition the sensations were pretty intense and I made a deep, moaning kind of yell that really calmed me and helped me to stay calm. And then just surrendering to the sensations without getting carried away by the pain of it! I knew it would pass quickly.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on all fours
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was incredible, but unique, because this was not my baby! I felt like this little baby and I had worked together to bring her here to meet her parents. Everything they had been through to bring this baby home had finally come to an end, and I felt like the baby was just as eager to meet them for the first time as they were to meet her. I kept telling her that her mommy would be there soon, and I got the sense that she understood me. She waited quietly and didn't make a peep until her mom got to us.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Give yourself a lot of "tools" to cope with your labor, but in the end you have to just surrender. You have to let go and soften everything- your mind and your body. Your subconscious will pull from those tools you gave yourself and bring the ones to the surface that are going to be the most beneficial in the moment. Don't be afraid to get into some funky positions or make some noise!
