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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Mild contractions started around 3:45 pm so i knew the beginning stages of labor started then. However, about 8:30 pm that night my water broke & contractions immediately became intense & strong, bringing me to my hands & knees! I knew we had to get to the hospital then!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Just getting through the contractions! I had tried to mentally prepare myself for that part but when it was actually happening there wasn't much I could do to keep from yelling through each contraction.
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babygirl
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Lots of prayer! I prayed a lot through pregnancy to prepare myself physically & mentally for childbirth. When my early stages of labor started I got in the shower & prayed as I listened to the "childbirth in the glory" album.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly it all happened! After my water broke at 8:30pm, my daughter was born less than an hour later at 9:20 pm. I had been praying it would be quick & I always hoped it would be fast but even after it was all said & done I still could not believe it!
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Get in your mind that you really want to go natural. When the contractions get strong it could be easy to give in & ask for medication but if you have it set in your mind that you really want to go natural you can cling to that when it gets rough. And even when it seems like the pain will never end, before you know it, it will all be over & you'll be holding your sweet babe.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Hopping in the shower after my water broke helped a little. Other than that there wasn't much else I tried since the baby was born so soon after my water broke!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I started out on my hands & knees in the bed but before my last 2 pushes the doctor made me get on my back because she wanted to be able to 'monitor' the baby. It was not ideal but i got to push the majority of the time on my hands & knees and that did help!
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing! My first daughter was born via c-section due to being breech. So after having a successful VBAC with this baby which went so smoothly & quickly, I never felt prouder! I actually DID it! It was amazing holding her sweet vernix-covered body against my chest knowing I did it all on my own! With the c-section I could only hold my first daughter for a couple minutes before they took her away while I went to recovery. This time around it was amazing when they handed her to me, knowing I would get to hold her for at least an hour without any interruptions!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Do your research & get yourself as prepared as possible beforehand. Also get in your mind that you really want to go natural. When the contractions get strong it could be easy to give in & ask for medication but if you have it set in your mind that you really want to go natural you can cling to that when it gets rough. And even when it seems like the pain will never end, before you know it, it will all be over & you'll be holding your sweet babe. Also make sure your partner (or whoever will be in the delivery room with you) is on the same page as you. Make sure you go over all that together several times before it's time to give birth!
