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When did you realize you were really in labor?
At 12:50 am On 12/7/16 I woke up from a contraction and new it was starting. They were 10 mins apart for 3 hours and by 7 am they were 3-5 mins apart. We got to the hospital by 9 am and I was only dilated 2cm. After a couple hours there and nothing changing I was told I could stay but be on a clear liquid diet or go home and continue laboring at home. I knew laboring at home was better, plus I was hungry, so I left. I was advised to walk around and stay active so my husband, my mother and I went out to eat. Then we went shopping, then I got my hair cut and eyebrows waxed, finally got the car detailed and washed all while having contractions 3-5 mins apart. All the things I was planning for the weekend since things were happening a week early. We went back to the hospital to have my cervix checked and nothing changed. I went back home it was about 4 pm now tried to take a nap for a couple of hours then took a hot bath for about an hour. Shortly after taking the bath everything changed contraction wise. I was no longer able to breathe through them and manage my pain. I was on the floor screaming and crying. We went back to the hospital at about 10pm and I was checked again and still only at 3cm. I couldn't do it any longer, now just about 24hrs in with no sleep and I got an epidural. After being able to sleep a little while the nurses came in every hour to turn you I was at 8cm at about 7am that's when they finally had to manually break my water. I was able to start pushing at 8:30am. I cried when the doctor told me she could see a head of dark hair, for some reason I was worried about having a bald baby. My baby girl was born at 8:59am 12/8/16. 6 days before my due date.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Dealing with the fact that I could not make it through all natural.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Stretch and massage the perineum
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was prepared that new moms usually push for an hour or more and it was all done in 29 mins.
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Absolutely try it if you want to but please don't beat yourself up and don't feel guilty if you end up not being able to go all the way. Either way you will have an amazing experience.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing and changing positions. I found that while standing I would hold on to something half bent over and rock back and forth on staggered feet.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Back with legs up, mandatory with epidural. Otherwise before hand I was most comfortable on all fours.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Absolutely surreal, I was truly in love at first sight. I did not want to give her up at the hour mark for measuring. I kept her for 90 mins before handing her over to daddy.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Absolutely try it if you want to but please don't beat yourself up and don't feel guilty if you end up not being able to go all the way. Either way you will have an amazing experience.
