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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had 2-3 weeks of prodromal labor and then the day after my due date my water broke at 2:30 pm, labor didn't really kick in until 5 pm that day.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Not knowing what to expect. How long will labor be? How painful will it be? I knew my body could do it but I had to keep my mind focused on the end goal of holding my daughter.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Exercise to keep her in position and red raspberry leaf tea! I'm positive the tea helped keep things moving along. The Mama Natural class was great for my husband and I to get on the same page for our birth plan.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it went!! This was my first and it was 9.5 hours from the time my water broke to the time I was holding her. Labor was intense for 4.5 hours and once I was holding her I remember thinking that was way faster than I expected but I wouldn't have wanted to go much longer. Also, the ring of fire was far more intense than I expected!!
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My husband said after the class was "worth its weight in gold!" It helped us both to focus our birth plan and know a little better what to expect.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing through contractions, letting the noise out and my husband rubbing my lower back while my cousin rubbed my legs. The light rubbing was a very calming sensation for me to focus on.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Surreal! My husband just kept saying, "She's here! You did it!" I think that sums it up pretty well.
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Ellenor Rose . Both are family names and we took the Ellen spelling to honor my grandmother.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
My husband said after the class was "worth its weight in gold!" It helped us both to focus our birth plan and know a little better what to expect.
