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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When my water broke!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Dealing with transition. Your body takes over and I felt that I was along for the ride.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Read lots of positive birth stories! Especially while in labor.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How amazing it is that your body knows exactly what to do. How instinctual it is. How different each birth experience really is. This was my third.
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Trust your body and yourself mentally. Its all a mental state. If you tell yourself you can do it, you will! Know that it is only temporary and is for a good cause. Its good pain!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
It really helped me to sit on a birthing ball leaning forward on the bed rocking back and forth. Chewing on ice chips and squeezing the bed bars. Taking deep breaths and pictureing each contraction as going up a hill and coming back down.
Every time I reached the peak and started coming down it was another reminder that I could do it.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back in bed. This is what felt most natural to me.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Like an amazing relief. All the pain of labor is worth it to be in that moment with your baby.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Trust your body and yourself mentally. Its all a mental state. If you tell yourself you can do it, you will! Know that it is only temporary and is for a good cause. Its good pain!