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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was passing out Halloween candy and started having contractions. I was surprised because I had no earlier signs that labor was imminent. Early labor went quickly since I was distracted by the hundreds of trick or treaters in our neighborhood!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The non-stop nature of labor. I feel like my contractions were so close together for most of my labor that I didn't even have time to think about pain medication. All I could do was focus on getting through the next contraction. It was an all-consuming experience.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Hire a doula. Best money my husband and I ever spent. Worth every penny (and she was expensive).
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What surprised you about your birth?
I thought I'd have more time to ease into labor, but things got intense far faster than I anticipated. Our daughter was also in the OP position, which we didn't know until she came out, so that was a surprise as well.
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Hire a Doula, Best money my husband and I ever spent
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I spent most of my labor standing or kneeling on the bed and hanging on to my husband. Poor guy must have had a very sore back by the time I gave birth! Having him or the doula put pressure on my lower back was also essential.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up delivering on my back.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Honestly, I was so tired by the time our daughter arrived that it was all a blur. I had planned on a blissful first hour skin to skin with my new baby but ended up with a postpartum hemorrhage requiring surgery. It wasn't until after that that I felt I really met my baby girl.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
The birth class helped my husband and me feel more knowledgeable about the whole process. It was great to see the birth videos and to hear the birth stories of other couples. Both those pieces gave us a dose of reality and helped us better understand that everyone's experience will be different.
