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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had an appointment with the midwife at 230. She checked me and said I was still thick and only 1 cm. By 430 I was 7 minutes apart. I didn't really believe I was in labor because of my appointment. By 830 I was 4 minutes apart and realized that obviously something was happening.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The car ride to the hospital! The hospital is 30 minutes away and after being in the car for 5 minutes I was 2 minutes apart and most definitely in transition. I lost my focus, there was a lot of screaming and a little crying.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I think just believing I could do it. When people questioned me or told me it would never work it made me more determined to have the birth I wanted.
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What surprised you about your birth?
The speed! Started labor at 4:30 in the afternoon, arrived at the hospital at 11:45 pm, had a baby at 12:04 am.
Also, the urge to push. It seriously just takes over, there's no controlling that.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I just focused on the time. My contractions lasted about 45 seconds so I knew when they would end. I also talked to myself a lot, saying "come down" over and over... meaning the pain from the contractions, I wanted it to lessen so I guess in my head by telling it to come down I was working with them
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back. I didn't want to but by the time I got to the bed and she checked me she could already feel his head. I couldn't think to put a sentence together to say I wanted to move.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was amazing. My first birth was induced and I had an epidural so the experience was completely different. I was very excited when I held my first baby but this time I cried, and laughed, and shook with adrenaline. I was just so proud that I did it.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
It helped me kind of know what was going on and what stage I was.
