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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When my water broke in our kitchen and the contractions were not stopping like my Braxton Hicks had before.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
We started laboring all natural even living in another country overseas. However, I was going into labor 3 weeks early and it was progressing fast. At the hospital, after 5 hours of natural laboring, my doctor did another pelvic exam. My muscles were not relaxing enough to help our baby get through the birth canal. So they insisted on doing an epidural to help. After that, we continued to monitor my baby’s heart rate. I knew something was wrong when my doctor stayed and just watched the machine. Her heart rate kept dipping too low. Now our doctor was an advocate for natural childbirth which in Central America these days can be rare. He agreed with our birth plan and said he would only advise changes in case of an emergency. Her heart rate went back up but I was only 8cm dilated we had an hour or more of labor to go. The doc looked at my husband and said it in Spanish first but I knew. He then told me they were concerned about her heart rate and it continuing to drop. It was necessary to do an emergency c-section to get her out immediately. So I nodded and they got me set up and into the OR immediately. It took less than 15 minutes from when he told me for my daughter to be born. It was rough, painful and emotional but she came out safe, a little tiny but beautiful and healthy. So the hardest part was having to switch gears so fast and be scared something could happen to her.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Watching the videos helped me remain calm but truthfully just constant communication with my husband and doctor and being open to change.
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What surprised you about your birth?
For our birth, it was how fast it progressed.
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It provided my husband and with more knowledge that we didn’t have and perspectives.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Lots of breathing and focusing on my husband and docs calming words.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was incredible. I couldn’t hold her for two hours while I recovered and she was under warming lights. Once I did it had to be on my back because I couldn’t sit up. But we initiated skin to skin and attempted breastfeeding which was amazing.
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Emerson Jane
It’s a strong yet beautiful name. We wanted one that was unisex but sounded feminine as well. We call her Eme or Eme J for short!
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
It provided my husband and with more knowledge that we didn’t have and perspectives.
