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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I don't think it really ever hit me that I was in labor. I was three weeks early, so the whole time I thought I was experiencing false labor. No one really every tells you about only having back labor and that is all I experienced. Looking back at it, I experienced everything within my three hours of labor. My mucus plug came out when my contractions prevented me from laying down. My water broke on the way to the hospital when my contractions turned to pushing and I popped my water.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing about going natural is pushing through each contraction and ignoring the pain. There was a point in my contractions where I was laboring at home that I thought I would not be able to stay natural. My back labor was so bad, I wanted to give up on staying natural. I know my husband would of talked me out of it since that was what we talked about and I was so worried about any type of medicine going to my baby.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing I did to prepare for childbirth is being mentally, physically, and spiritually ready for birth. I kept my mind calm and relaxed. I meditated and visualized my body accepting every contraction and the baby easily coming out. I kept my body fed and hydrated. I knew the work it was about to go through would be challenging.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Surprised is an understatement to describe my birth. I was completely caught off guard and still cannot believe my own birth story. Having baby come three weeks early was a special treat since it was the day after my own birthday. How my body moved so quickly to bring baby earthbound is what really shocked me the most. My labor was only three hours and it moved much faster than I could of imagined. We made it to the hospital with two minutes to spare. I really thought my husband was going to have to deliver him since I was crowning in the thirty minute car ride to the hospital. We arrived at 6:40 am and he was born at 6:42 am.
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The best advice I can give is surrender your body and let your body do what it is suppose to do. Meditate on your body opening and delivering. My yoga ball became my best friend months leading up to birth. I think that had a lot to do with my fast labor. Stay positive and have a clear mind and any mama can do it!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I cannot stress it enough, contracting in the shower! The hot water pouring on my back, slightly muted the excruciating pain in my lower back. Even stretching and yelling through each contraction helped.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I did not get to deliver my baby in the position I wanted too. Since the circumstances I was in, the nurses are the ones who actually delivered him and laying on my back was the only position since it took two pushed to deliver him.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was absolutely amazing. I was still in complete shock with what had just happened. I was three weeks early and that day I was expecting to go to school, not delivering my baby in a three hour labor. It really caught me off guard.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
The best advice I can give is surrender your body and let your body do what it is suppose to do. Meditate on your body opening and delivering. My yoga ball became my best friend months leading up to birth. I think that had a lot to do with my fast labor. Stay positive and have a clear mind and any mama can do it!
