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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up at 5 am and realized my water had broke while I was asleep. It was obvious that is was my water breaking rather than peeing the bed because there was a lot of it and it kept leaking out when I got out of bed. ( sorry TMI)
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Knowing that I would be having a larger baby and since I've done one natural birth already, I knew the pain that I would experience. Between those two thoughts I was more nervous this time around but also was very motivated to do the birth natural and more tailored to what I liked/didn't like from the first birth.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Watch YouTube videos on natural birth, surround myself with positive people who supported my decision, and found a doula who I could confide in and became good friends with her before the birth.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was surprised it took much longer to push this time around than my last birth. I knew my son would be a larger baby than my daughter but I didn't realize he would be almost 3 lbs more! I finally was able to push him out in 50 minutes all 9 lbs 8.8 oz of him! And by the grace of God I had no tearing! It was a true surprise and nothing short of a miracle!
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Every woman has it in her to do this! You have the strength and if you can get through it mentally than physically your body was made to do this. Also if you have other children, another tactic I used was seeing my daughter's face laughing or smiling, singing and dancing and just her joy. It took my mind to a happy place and reminded me of what I was going through this pain for.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Sitting up felt the best to me, like sitting on the birthing ball or sitting up on my knees on the bed. Anytime the had my lay on my back to check me, it was so much more painful than sitting up.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my side. I had to finally lay down because it took so long to push him out that I grew tired on being on my knees.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing! I had finally done it and got to hold an amazing prize at the end. Nothing better!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Every woman has it in her to do this! You have the strength and if you can get through it mentally than physically your body was made to do this. With every contraction that you get through, just remind yourself that you never have to do THAT contraction ever again. And that was one less contraction that you have to do as well. Also if you have other children another tactic I used was seeing my daughter's face laughing or smiling, singing and dancing and just her joy. It took my mind to a happy place and reminded me of what I was going through this pain for.
