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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I started feeling slight contractions around 3:00 pm. However, they weren't in my stomach, they were more in my pelvic region. So I called my doctor and explained how I was feeling. He said these type of mild contractions usually go away on their own and just told me to lay down and try to relax. So that's what I did. I laid down in bed and tried to ride each one out. Finally after about two hours, my husband talked me into going to the hospital to get checked. I was apprehensive because I didn't want to get all the way there for them to say I wasn't dilated enough yet and send me home. We arrived at the woman's center of the hospital and to my surprise, I was dilated to a six. At this point, I still thought I had some time to relax. Boy was I wrong! Within ten minutes of the doctor checking my cervix, I felt like I had to push. They checked me again, and sure enough, I was dilated to a ten! Less than fifteen minutes after I had arrived, I was ready to deliver this baby!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part of going all natural was that I was still going back and forth on if I wanted any pain medicine. I knew in my heart that I wanted an unmedicated birth, but i also didn't know what to expect, pain wise. I was expecting to be in labor for hours upon hours since this was my first birth. Since everything happened so fast, there was no time to think about interventions. It was go time. I pushed and pushed and pushed for an hour and a half. It is now the most rewarding thing to be able to say that I gave birth completely natural.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
We took birthing classes which helped some. But honestly, the research I did myself helped the most. I found myself youtubing natural birthing vlogs daily. It got me pumped up for what was to come!
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly it went! We were told that first time births usually last 12-17 hours. Mine was less than five and a half. The nurses joked that I need to camp out at the hospital a few weeks prior to my due date for my next birth.
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Do it! Think of all the mamas that had to do it before interventions were around. You will never feel more strong and empowered in your life. Truly a rewarding experience.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I didn't have time to even think about this since it happened so fast. In between each contraction, my husband would put a cool wash cloth on my forehead, it helped me relax for the 30 seconds before I had to push again. The nurses also brought a mirror in so that I could watch. Seeing the progress with my own eyes helped me push even harder and took my mind off the pain.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I felt a type of unconditional love that I didn't know existed until that very moment. She didn't take her eyes off of my face. This precious little life depended on me from that very moment. I had never felt so lucky.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Do it! Think of all the mamas that had to do it before interventions were around. You will never feel more strong and empowered in your life. Truly a rewarding experience.
