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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I realized I was in labor at 7 a.m. after I had strongish contractions for approximately 3 hours. I still was able to get some sleep and let my husband sleep, too!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
It was my 4th all natural birth. There was nothing I thought was challenging compared to a hospital birth. My first was an all-natural hospital birth, but compared with a home birth it was terrifying. Even though I had a midwife, the hospital had a policy of sending all women in labor for over 17 hours into the operating room for a C-section. Even though there was nothing wrong with me or my baby, I was wheeled into the operating room. To save me from an unnecessary major operation, my midwife yelled at me to push and push, to bring the baby down. I gave birth naturally on the operating table.
Since then I've had 3 children - at my doula's house, at a hotel (my midwife doesn't have a birthing center), and at home. The best was having a baby at home. It was so wonderful! Calm, quiet, I could have my music on, I had my wonderful midwives with me. I was relaxed and happy. It was absolutely wonderful.
There was nothing challenging about it. It was hard work, yes. But I didn't have an IV, I could move any way I wanted, I didn't have any drugs interfering with the natural hormones produced by my body. It was simply wonderful, albeit not as easy as drinking a cup of tea:)
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I wanted to give birth that particular day. The kids were at a friend's house, my midwives were on the way. It was perfect. And then my labor kind of stalled. I figured out that I was anxious about a few things, so my husband and I had a mini-date. We drank a tiny bit of wine to help me relax, cuddled, and talked. As soon as I relaxed, my labor started again. I was so happy, I welcomed each contraction with all its discomfort (I can't call it pain. It was just uncomfortable but much needed pressure).
I had a mental image of my cervix smiling each time I had a contraction, and that helped cope with the increasing discomfort.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I spent about 2 hours in the birthing tub. It surprised me (yet again) how much the water helped. At some point, I was wondering if I was faking the contractions, it helped so much:)
The biggest surprise was when my midwife told me that she already got her instruments out, so the baby was coming very soon. It was great:)
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I would like them to focus on appreciating contractions. Changing your mentality from "Yikes, this is uncomfortable/painful" to "Wow, that was a good one" is extremely helpful.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I had a mental image of an old fat bald benign-looking guy jumping in a pool of freezing water, then saying: "Oof, that was good!"
I'm not sure why I thought of that, or if I'd ever seen this, but it was hilarious, everyone thought it was funny, and it made me appreciate each contraction again, and even enjoy it.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Hands and knees.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I was much more aware of what was going on this time, and it was so cool to hold him!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
I would like them to focus on appreciating contractions. Changing your mentality from "Yikes, this is uncomfortable/painful" to "Wow, that was a good one" is extremely helpful. Sometimes I'd forget to think about my helpful old bald guy, and think it was painful. My husband would remind me in the middle of the contraction, I'd smile, and it was like it wasn't painful anymore!