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When did you realize you were really in labor?
2:00 AM
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Pushing!!!
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IMG_7085
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Reading "supernatural childbirth"
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What surprised you about your birth?
How perfect it was!
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Women, we are fearfully and wonderfully designed. We are strong, beautiful, and fully capable of having an amazing birth without fear.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Counter pressure, praying & laughing!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
All fours
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
AMAZING!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Women, we are fearfully and wonderfully designed. We are strong, beautiful, and fully capable of having an amazing birth without fear. I would like to briefly share my birth story because I have YOU in mind. The low risk woman who doesn’t know she has birth options. A home birth for us was beautiful, peaceful, powerful, and worship. It was ours; the way we wanted to bring our daughter into this world. You deserve to know how it was the most wonderful experience possible for us. I’ll pause here for a moment. There is nothing wrong with where you give birth, whether you had a c-section or not, whether you needed Pitocin, as long as momma and baby are healthy. There is, however, a wonderful home experience that is gaining momentum again. This was our experience.
Saturday night I had some light cramping and called my mom, she decided to drive to Holland “just in case” I was going to go into labor during the night. Before we went to bed Andrew and I prayed together for Avaleigh’s birth and went over our birth affirmations together. 2:30 am came and some mild contractions woke me up. I prayed either I would know it was real labor or I would be able to fall back to sleep. The time for Avaleigh was here. No panic, no rush to the hospital. I just got up and started getting out birth supplies, cleaned, and finished up some laundry. At 3:30 am Andrew and mom woke up and started helping get out the birth supplies. I fueled up with some chia seed pudding, cantaloupe, and a cookie. My midwife was called shortly after and she was on her way with her birth assistant. We had bought a pool in case I wanted to be in the water (I’m not a water girl) we literally pitched the idea when we tossed the pool over the stairs and out of the way. Our midwife arrived in the next 45 min and at 4:30 am the contractions were becoming more intense. This is important so listen in; YOU need to be comfortable to have a great birth. My midwife understood this beautifully and only came to check in when she listened to baby to make sure she was okay. This sped up my labor. When you are relaxed your cervix dilates quicker and your body accepts the contractions instead of fighting them. I labor with my husband. That’s it. I don’t like noise and commotion. We had a birth play list on and I labored in my own bed on my knees with a stack of pillows in front of me while he did counter pressure behind me. Contractions come in waves, there ARE breaks in between contractions. Andrew and I were able to talk, pray and laugh during these wonderful breaks. When I started to push Andrew let my mom know and the midwife came in and got all set up. She let me be where I was most comfortable. I only pushed for 17 minutes and at 7:28 my beautiful daughter was born. I was 6 days “overdue” with a 9 lb 21 1/2 inch baby out of my frame and I couldn’t be happier. Feel empowered women, for God made us powerful. Now for the “You” out there this was written for; I hope it helps!
