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When did you realize you were really in labor?
After weeks of Braxton Hicks contractions, I woke up before midnight with contractions that were actually painful. I knew right away that these contractions were different and I didn't bother to time them before calling my midwife.
We got checked in to the hospital around 1am and I was already 4-5cm dilated. My water broke around 1:30am and it was fast and intense from there!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
It was so fast that I wasn't mentally prepared to handle the intensity of the pain. It just went from a 2 to a 10 in a matter of minutes and was hard to handle both mentally and physically.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I really tried to take advantage of the Braxton Hicks contractions and breathe through them, hoping that my relaxing would let them prepare my body all the more for the work to be done.
Even though this was child #4, I found myself reading often to prepare myself.
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What surprised you about your birth?
It all just happened so fast! I was hoping to use the water tub to labor but Baby's heart rate decelerated some and they needed to put a monitor on his scalp.
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God designed your body to give birth and you can totally do it. Find a great midwife and don't forget to breathe!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Walking when I was able to, before my water broke, felt good.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Sitting on the hospital bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I just couldn't believe he was out. I kept saying, "we have a baby!"
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
God designed your body to give birth and you can totally do it. Find a great midwife and don't forget to breathe!
