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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up at 3am on Christmas Day with period pain-like contractions and immediately knew. My Braxton Hicks had been frequent but completely painless, and I recognized the feeling from my last labour so I knew it was on.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
My last birth had been very long and painful and ended in a Cesarean due to unrecognized malpresentation (after four hours of pushing) so the hardest part for me was letting go and realizing that this wasn't going to be the same. I spent a lot of time fighting the pushing and crying that I needed drugs to get through because I couldn't do this for four hours like last time (but I did!)
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Definitely re-reading the hyonobirthing book was great, I was able to go all the way until transition (3am to around 9pm) breathing calmly through contractions and feeling relaxed. I didn't even have my doula arrive until I was well into transition!
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What surprised you about your birth?
I think I was expecting to be calm this time, I'd done all the reading and breathing practice, I'd laboured before, and I thought I'd worked through my previous birth trauma. But once transition and then pushing hit I lost my head completely!
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Have a good team with you. I'm not sure I'd have been able to do it without my strong midwife, and had I been in hospital I know I'd have given up and probably ended up having either an instrumental delivery or a repeat section. My doula, husband, and midwife all refused to let me give up and talked me through each contraction until the very end!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The birth pool was wonderful once things really got going, but doing the hyonobirthing breathing during early labour was all I needed. I also enjoyed pacing during contractions and holding out my arms in a 'surrender' type pose to help me remember to let go and relax.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my hands and knees leaning over the arm of my couch.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I think you can see from my photo just the shock and confusion I felt - I was adamant that she wasn't going to come out even as she was crowning, and to suddenly have a baby in my arms was beyond strange!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Have a good team with you. I'm not sure I'd have been able to do it without my strong midwife, and had I been in hospital I know I'd have given up and probably ended up having either an instrumental delivery or a repeat section. My doula, husband, and midwife all refused to let me give up and talked me through each contraction until the very end!
