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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I wrote my birth story in full (and would love if you could link to the whole story and photoessay) at:
http://www.lauritadianita.info/?p=1180
When I got my first contraction I figured I was in early labor. I thought I was in active labor before I actually was, but then once the contractions got more intense and frequent and consistent, I knew.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
All in story at link above.
There was (is) a lot of really hard and stressful stuff happening in my life when I went into labor, and the sadness got in the way of labor progressing early on, and then, once I was in active labor, it made the pain a lot more painful. It was harder to land on the right coping strategy because of the sadness. It took so much more intention and power on my part to find peace amidst so much pain and hurt, but I did.
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image27
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Talking through my fears and concerns and supports with my midwives, my doula, and my close sister-friends, including in a blessing ceremony prior to he birth.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Once active labor did begin, how quick it was (an hour forty minutes, compared to five and a half hours for my first birth) and how quick pushing was (15 minutes, compared to 70 minutes with my first birth).
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Prepare prepare prepare with someone who can help you go deep into the internal place you need to get through it.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
All written much better in blog than I can write here.
Concentrating on the peace and love that was around me from my mama and midwife and doula and the song that was playing. Concentrating on the colors and intentions of their tranquility and generosity. Also, squeezing my doula's hand quite hard during transition.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my left side on the bed, holding my own right leg up as high as it could go.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing. Such a relief because I could tell from his cry and his body that he was healthy and breathing, and because I was DONE giving birth this time and forever (this is my last kid).
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Prepare prepare prepare with someone who can help you go deep into the internal place you need to get through it.
Also, find a really competent, compassionate, and safe provider who has a solid record of good outcomes for moms and babies, and who will provide that data for you. Ask around a lot, and if you are using a birth center, look for accredited birth centers, as they tend to have safer outcomes and higher standards. If you are using a hospital, ask about the policies and get to know your rights as a patient within a hospital setting.
