-
When did you realize you were really in labor?
I realized I was truly in labor at 4am when I started feeling period-like cramps that woke me up from sleep. They were pretty intense from the get-go, and were already about 5-6 minutes apart.
-
What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
This was a VBAC for me (my first birth was an emergency c-section after 41 hours of labor, my son was posterior), so I had underlying fears of not being able to get through it, and I was also a bit scared of transition.
-
5A240E6D-9738-4A04-886F-530E0CEE32FB
-
What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Bradley birth classes, some hypno methods, watching birth videos and hearing other natural birth experiences, and exercise!
-
What surprised you about your birth?
That i did it! I had a successful, non-medicated VBAC, and my beautiful daughter was born en caul after 3 pushes. I had to breathe through a cervical lip when I was complete and wanted to push for an hour, but the lip finally moved, and she came out in her bag of waters. I was also surprised to give birth on my hands and knees because I had always envisioned squatting, but because of the cervical lip my doula recommended the hands and knees position to breathe her down, and I just stayed there. I was beautiful and healing.
-
Don’t be afraid- your body was made to do this. Trust in your ability to give birth to your baby. Exercise
-
What pain relief strategies worked best?
Moving during the contractions and singing songs in my head.
-
What position did you end up delivering in?
Hands and knees.
-
How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Incredible! All my discomfort was gone immediately, and everything I had been working for was here, happy and healthy.
-
What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Don’t be afraid- your body was made to do this. Trust in your ability to give birth to your baby. Exercise
