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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up at 2:00am with mild menstrual type cramping and brushed it off as just having a full bladder. I was 39 weeks that morning so I thought I had at least another week before baby would arrive. I noticed some bloody tinge when after using the restroom so I had a feeling it was time. My cramps came and wen at a steady pace and increased in intensity over the next hour and a half. Things were moving right along so this was the real deal.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
My labor was very quick so it caught me off guard. I did not expect to transition so quickly! We had just called the Midwife to let her know I was ready for her to come and my husband had just unpacked the pool when I had a very intense contraction and started pushing on my bedroom floor. Not being able to stop the urge to push was a little terrifying to me! It was so powerful and giving up control and letting my body do its thing was very challenging!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I read all of Ina May Gaskin's books and found so much encouragement those the birth stories.It gave me confidence that I could birth my baby. I walked daily to keep myself strong and took a lot of naps.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I am surprised by how fast it was! I am also surprised by how quickly I recovered after giving birth naturally, I felt amazing immediately after my son was born which was opposite of what I experienced with my daughter's medicated hospital birth.
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Trust yourself and your body. Don't doubt your strength, you were made for this! I would choose a natural birth again. It was exhilarating!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I walked around a lot and tried Hypnobirthing techniques. Keeping calm allowed me to take the contractions as they came and acclimate myself to the situation.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up delivering on my hands and knees while crawling towards my bathroom.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was as if all the pain from previous Postpartum Depression and three previous miscarriages was healed instantly. I needed to experience the birth of my rainbow baby completely. It was painful and pure joy all at once.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Trust yourself and your body. Don't doubt your strength, you were made for this! I would choose a natural birth again. It was exhilarating!
