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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had pre-labor signs all week, so was trying not to get my hopes up with every change. My back really starting hurting Wednesday night and I thought it had to do with my posture. Then when it felt the same Friday night, I started paying more attention. Then the pain felt more regular, sometimes my uterus, sometimes my back, so I went to bed early and knew that action would happen on Saturday.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Childbirth was a lot more painful than I anticipated, for much longer than I had hoped, and I questioned my choice, especially during the transition what is the point of this pain? Why am I choosing to feel this? I definitely felt like giving up as I had been told "you're almost there" for hours upon hours, and I no longer believed it. I remember thinking- if I knew I only had 3 more contractions, I can do this. If I have 3 more hours- no way. I felt EVERYTHING during pushing, which was not a good thing. My body somehow did it, but everything about it was challenging.
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Asherbirth
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I really enjoyed the mama natural birth course and reading more about how labor is an athletic event rather than a medical procedure. This way, you see the pain as progress and purposeful, rather than something to be avoided. It was helpful to read and watch so many birthing stories and videos to see the range of experiences and realize that everyone is different and we don't have much control over what happens.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How hard it was! I felt I did such a good job in exercising, eating well, and prepping to have the best birth possible, and yet I still had terrible back labor, vomiting, tearing, and hours upon hours of labor. I keep telling myself that almost everyone has a better experience the second time, or maybe if I wait long enough I'll just forget. I also need to give up control and be thankful that we didn't have complications and we're all home. But I still feel a bit traumatized by the experience, and I'm surprised by that.
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It helped immensely, learning about various positions, hearing stories, and just being educated before being thrown into it all.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
My husband applied counter pressure on my back for every contraction for 10 hours- that was clutch.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
The final pushes I was on my back with the doctor and my husband holding my legs, but until then, I was on my side during pushing and then would flip myself to be on my knees between contractions due to my back pain.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Surreal. Up until that point, it was hard to believe that my pregnancy and labor was actually going to produce a baby- and then there he was. I was relieved the process was mostly over, and quickly realized that new challenges were ahead. Since we were unmedicated, baby was very alert, and I remember my husband commenting on how soon my sense of humor returned.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
It helped immensely, learning about various positions, hearing stories, and just being educated before being thrown into it all. My doula said she has had 2 clients go through the course, and it's night and day difference for how we handled labor versus others. So I'm very thankful that we decided to take the course.
