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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I'd been having mild contractions every 5-10 minutes for over 24 hours. I woke up with my 16 month old daughter around 6:40 and nursed her. As usual this brought on mild contractions which at first I didn't pay attention to because they always went away. However these grew in intensity and within a half hour I was in the shower moaning in pain. As soon as I got out my husband and I knew we needed to go!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I didn't have much of a choice as I was pushing by the time we arrived at the hospital! Pushing was hardest for me. I kept trying to think of a way out of it even though logically I knew it was happening.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Watch videos and listen to other moms who went natural stories.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Yes! It went way faster than I anticipated. A little under two hours of active labor. I had planned for a calm, relaxing water birth but ended up spending most of my labor in the car yelling at my husband.
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It's all worth it in the end. In the moment it felt like the worst but after it was over all I wanted to do was tell my story over and over again.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Focusing on the end goal.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Kneeling.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Relief, pride and happiness.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
It's all worth it in the end. In the moment it felt like the worst but after it was over all I wanted to do was tell my story over and over again. I felt so proud WALKING to my recovery room while pushing my baby in the bassinet. So different from my first birth with an epidural.
