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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When you feel like you're peeing your pants every few minutes uncontrollably and it lasts for a while, you know something's up! I knew my water had broken and immediately began feeling regular period-like cramping.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
You have to be all in. When you make that choice, leave no room in your mind for medication. Understand you can do it, women have gone before you for centuries and you are capable! One affirmation I read in the Mama Natural book that I think will help all moms goes something like, "This experience cannot be more powerful than me because it is me." Your body is not attacking you - it is helping you move forward toward the end goal of birthing a baby and you can do it!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Education. I cannot express this enough. Watch birth videos, read birth stories and birth books, learn how to bounce and move on a birth ball, read about supplements, talk to women who went a route you are aiming for and learn all you can. The more mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually prepared you can be the better you will handle the experience. You will go through stages of childbirth and remember, "Oh ya! I read about this." and feel confident. Confidence will relax you and relaxing will allow your body to progress.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was surprised at how much I hated the water. My whole pregnancy I dreamed of a water birth and was so excited at the thought of having warm water for relief and buoyancy. But man, it was so not what I wanted in the moment! I needed to be on land, dry and on all fours. For my future births I will be more flexible with my expectations.
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"I can do it! I can do it!" Hearing myself say it and truly believing in those words was an awesome feeling.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Honestly, being vocal was pain relief. I remember saying out loud during transition in between contractions, "I can do it! I can do it!" Hearing myself say it and truly believing in those words was an awesome feeling.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was most comfortable on all fours. It allowed me to bear down, ground myself and push hard. My husband told me afterward (and reminds me to this day, which is sweet) that I looked very athletic when I pushed. On all fours I felt like I was able to use my entire body.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Oh my goodness...your eyes could never imagine what your baby looks like when you see him or her for the first time. Your eyes race side to side, up and down scanning every detail of this miraculous, beautiful little human being you've never even seen before and that instant changes everything. It's a powerful, powerful moment.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
My advice is, if you are low-risk and believe in your heart that your body was built to conceive, grow and birth a baby - do it. That's it. You can do this.
