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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When I felt I had the urge to bare down and push at home!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I always had my heart set on going natural. During the transition phase, which I spent at home not realizing how far along I was, I thought it was too much to handle and just wished I knew what was going on with my body and almost wished I had some pain relief!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
This time around I decided I needed to relax. For my first birth I did everything and read everything there was and the birth didn't go as expected... So this time I thought it would be good to not think of the way the birth would go or not and relax the whole way. This actually made me more focused on the day (this was my second baby) since I didn't waste any energy worrying about the outcome. I also walked every single day, drank red raspberry leaf tea (specially doing labour), and took evening primrose oil 5 days before giving birth.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I never had the "show" everyone talks about until I was well in labour! My waters never broke either until our son was completely out. It was very quick once I got to the birthing center. I couldn't believe that I went through the most challenging part at home, at night time while my daughter was sleeping, and 1.5 hours after arriving to the birthing center our son was born. It was an unmedicated, natural water birth. 8 hours after he was born we were discharged from the birthing center and on our way back home.
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We are designed to do this! Our bodies, and every other animal for that matter, were created to both naturally. If you have a low risk pregnancy, you can do this too! So many women have done this before you and will keep doing it after we are gone. It is an empowering, satisfying, beautiful act to brig a child into this world the way nature intended us to do so.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I didn't focus that much on pain relief, rather I knew that the stronger the contraction the closer I was to meeting our baby. By saying that I did watch my favourite movie during contractions, had a vitamin C natural lollipop (so helpful!), and during the pushing stage had an icy cloth on my forehead (highly recommend it!).
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up delivering in all fours in the birthing pool. My husband was there the whole time and passed our baby to me.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was so magical! I felt relieved and excited all at the same time. I had done it! I felt strong, happy and more connected with my husband as well. Welcoming a little person into the world and then holding close your creation is the highlight of the start of motherhood.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
We are designed to do this! Our bodies, and every other animal for that matter, were created to both naturally. If you have a low risk pregnancy, you can do this too! So many women have done this before you and will keep doing it after we are gone. It is an empowering, satisfying, beautiful act to brig a child into this world the way nature intended us to do so.
