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When did you realize you were really in labor?
At 14 days late my doctor decided to induce labor. We started with prostaglandins hoping they would start labor naturally. After 20 hours we started pitocin since labor still hadn't started.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
My body wasn't responding to the induction methods, so we had to keep adding more interventions. Even while I was pushing if the pitocin turned off my contractions stopped.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Squats, the miles circuit, and preparing a great playlist.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Baby boy did not want to come out. Our induction started at 14 days past my due date, and he was born 53 hours later!
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So strange! I was kind of scared to hold him, it didn't feel like it was real and that I was finally meeting the boy I had grown and carried for ten months.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I leaned on my birth ball a lot. Rocking my hips back and forth. Praying/meditating while listening to music.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back, with stirrups. They needed forceps to deliver my baby because his heart rate was dropping.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
So strange! I was kind of scared to hold him, it didn't feel like it was real and that I was finally meeting the boy I had grown and carried for ten months.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Hire a doula! Especially if you have to give birth in the hospital. Our doula helped so much and made us feel much more comfortable and confident.
