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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Around 1 in the morning I woke up with a mild pain so I got up and got in the shower.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The contractions were worse in my opinion than the actual birthing of the baby. Especially once they were so intense and close together
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I saw a chiropractor that was certified in the Webster technique and specialized in pregnancy chiro. I also drank my labor prep tea and ate as many dates as I could for the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. Using the birth ball also helped a ton getting everything opened up.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Once my contractions started at 1 AM., they didn’t gradually increase for hours, they literally started off with only a minute and a half in between. After an hour of that, I called my midwife and went to the birth center. When she checked me at 2:30 AM she said: “the reason you feel like this is that you’re about to have a baby and you’re complete dilated already”. I had only been in labor for an hour and a half and I was already fully dilated. It was a complete shock to me. She was also shocked and she even said I’m glad I didn’t tell you to wait because it’s very unusual for your contractions to start off so close together like that
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Just know that the pain is temporary and the end goal is the most rewarding one you’ll ever have in your life. The pain instantly left my body the moment I held her.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I had a water birth so as soon as I got to the birth center and realized I was already completely dilated I got into the tub and labored in there for about 20 minutes. I won’t say it helped the pain but it definitely eased my mind and allowed me to relax just a little
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Sitting holding my legs back in the corner of the birth tub
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was a huge rush of endorphins to go from pushing and having so much pain to holding my sweet baby and the pain was instantly gone. I was in awe and so completely happy
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
I can’t really give a lot of advice because my labor was so fast that I feel like I didn’t have to endure the pain as long as a lot of mommas do, but just know that the pain is temporary and the end goal is the most rewarding one you’ll ever have in your life. The pain instantly left my body the moment I held her. I didn’t even feel my placenta being expelled. It was the most amazing experience ever and I wish this wasn’t my last baby because I want to experience it again and again