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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I started labor Thursday evening around 5 pm. The day before I had gone to our county fair and walked for hours and I could feel something changing I was exactly 40 weeks. I felt pressure on my vulva so I knew I would start labor soon. Thursday evening I start feeling cramps that started slow and were far apart I kept walking outside and trying to prepare myself mentally for it. I went inside and had dinner, sat on the birthing ball rocking from side to side. Finally, around 11 pm I decided I would go to bed and get some rest. At this point, my contractions stopped. Then at 3 am I wake up from a jabbing pain on my back and then contractions started getting more regular and closer together. I got up went to my living room and just labored walking around, on fours rocking back into a child’s pose with each contraction. They were getting closer together so at 5 am we went to the hospital. Once there I requested a doula, which was amazing, couldn’t have done it without her and my husband putting counter pressure on my lower back. I labored some more on the birthing ball. My baby was born at 8 am. 5 hours from the first strong contraction to birth.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Trusting myself. Letting go and trusting that my body was made to birth a baby. I was calm all throughout the labor I did well with breathing through each pain and vocalizing. Relaxing my body just letting the pain wash through. But at the very end when I was ready to push doubt crept in and for a moment I was really scared but the doula really helped me focus and reminded me to trust my body. Three pushes and baby was out. It was intense but so amazing. And the pain just went away once baby was born. The most surreal moment. I felt like a warrior!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I saw a lot of birthing videos, I read Ina May’s book about natural labor. Affirmations, just trusting God knowing I would be okay. Exercises on the birthing ball and a birthing class offered at my hospital. Just remembering all the mothers that have done it and knowing you are more than capable.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How strong my body is. How strong the mind is. It’s all about focusing on that moment on each contraction knowing its one closer to seeing your baby, calming your mind, trusting yourself. Also how alert I was. My first labor was medicated and I felt groggy and sleepy.
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Amazing. Unbelievable that I had given birth naturally. I felt immediate pain relief. I felt so proud of myself for believing I could and I did.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing and relaxing my body. Vocalizing. Counter pressure on my lower back. Warm packs on my back. Holding my husband's hand.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing. Unbelievable that I had given birth naturally. I felt immediate pain relief. I felt so proud of myself for believing I could and I did.
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Ismael, because it means God listens. He really does hear my prayers.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Read natural birth stories, tell yourself you can do it your body was made for this. Get a doula!! When the pain comes don’t back away from it instead, take it in let it pass through your body and let it go. Don’t brace yourself through each pain that will just cause more pain. Breathe, breathe, breathe.
