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When did you realize you were really in labor?
We lived 2.5 hours from the hospital so when contractions were 10 minutes apart we headed that way. They slowed and then that evening during the Patriots/Steelers football game they picked up and were 3 minutes apart and steady!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Staying focused and breathing through the intense contractions.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Didn’t do a lot as we had just moved and I have 2 other kids. I have mostly learned to focus on the outcome and know I don’t want to complicate things with interventions if at all possible.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How much it hurt and how I struggled with the pain with this being my 3rd natural birth I thought it would be easy to push through it but it was a mental struggle.
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Prepare yourself and your partner mentally to know what you want. It is painful and just when you want to quit know you are probably almost there! Natural is worth it.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing and listening to my husband who is the best labor coach I could ever ask for. Also looking in his eyes and breathing with him.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Started on hands and knees and ended up on my back slightly sitting up.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Absolutely amazing. Had an instant connection with him and we were able to do skin to skin for 2 hours. He nursed on his own and it was a memory I won’t soon forget.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Prepare yourself and your partner mentally to know what you want. It is painful and just when you want to quit know you are probably almost there! Natural is worth it. Recovery was fast and I knew at all times what was happening and knew I’d have a baby in my arms very soon.
