Making It To Every Single One of Her Appointments Helped Jessica During Her Birth Center Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I never went into labor. I had a emergency c-section at 36 weeks. Our baby girl had stopped growing and the placenta was defected due to me having a subchronic hemorage the first 7 1/2 months I was pregnant, it constantly made me bleed. And she was in a breech position with her head in my rib cage.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

I didn't have a chance to go natural with this pregnancy unfortunately but it saved my daughter's life because I did not so I am very grateful. She wouldn't of made it through the stress of contractions or induction.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

Making it to every single one of my appointments. I was a high risk pregnacy the whole time. I saw my doctor weekly and had ultrasound done every 3-4 weeks all the way up to the day I delivered our daughter.

What surprised you about your birth?

How there is so much of a difference between a full term baby (first pregnancy i had my son at 39 weeks all natural without any pain medication or anything at all, he was 7 pounds 4 ounces) and a preemie baby ( had my daughter at 36 weeks, by emergency c-section, she weighed 4 pounds 12 ounces and dropped to 4 pounds in 2 days.) With our daughter we stayed 2 weeks total in the hosptial (1 of those weeks in the nicu) it was so hard not to be able to bring her home directly after delivering her.

Its all Your mind set. And and your support system. Just breathe and take one contraction at a time.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

I didn't use any because I ended up having a emergency c-section. But after my c-section walking was the best relief to heal afterwards

What position did you end up delivering in?

Laying down. They numbed me completely from my waist down

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

I was actually afraid too because she was so small. But after I got over the fear of her being so small I was so over joyed. She is our rainbow baby and a miracle in more ways the one.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Its all Your mind set. And and your support system. Just breathe and take one contraction at a time. I sat there and talked to myself and reassured myself out loud (felt a little crazy afterwards lol) through my first pregnancy and got through 6 hours of labor with no pain medication of any kind or epidural.