This is a guest post by a mamma who had an amazing natural birth experience. I’m happy to introduce Danielia from Anchors Away. She is such a sweetheart and I love her perspective! Enjoy!
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Hi all, I am Daneilia from Anchors Away. I want to thank Erika for having me guest post on her blog, especially because she is super sweet and I get to share something with you all that was and is highly important to me. I’m going to give you all my spiel on having a natural birth. It’s one of the things in my life I am most passionate about, after all it is about life.
When I was younger I loved watching all the TLC shows on giving birth. My favorite ones were the water births, which were always drug-free. The women would say how the pain wasn’t something that consumed them. It is just an amazing experience. I knew then, like I knew when my husband and I got married, what our plans would be when I got pregnant. I would birth our child naturally.
I am one of those people who believe in doing everything the most natural way first, if at all possible. I am also that person that absolutely hates needles so, if I can stay away from those, I’m a happy camper. Mostly, though, I really wanted to avoid ALL of the possible complications and long term effects that can accompany epidurals. I have met a couple of women who will be forever impaired one way or another because of having an epidural. Everything from life long issues to death were the possible risks I wasn’t willing to take.
I had several midwives who worked with me during my entire pregnancy. I absolutely adore them for what they have done for my daughter and me. They all knew I wanted to birth my baby naturally from the start. They also all knew I wanted a water birth, but since our Army plan didn’t pay for water births, I had to settle for being on a bed. The Army hospital I had my daughter in had just renovated several birthing rooms and a few of them had new jacuzzi tubs. To my surprise, my midwives told me as long as I had one of those rooms during my labor, I could sit in the tub. All smiles on my face, I was so excited.
So, on a Sunday morning in July at 1am, I went into active labor and had my husband take me to the hospital. As soon as we arrived, I was being monitored. Even though I was in pain, I was thrilled because I didn’t want to have any doctors.
I didn’t just trust my midwife because I knew her, I trusted her because she cares about natural births! Since she already knew my birth plan, she knew the steps to take that night. After being monitored and checked, I was only dilated at 3cm, so she gave me the “go-to” to head over to my room and get prepared.
Once in my room, I was helped into the jacuzzi tub (so I somewhat got a water birth) and, after several hours, when I had begun bearing down, my midwife pulled me out of the tub and checked me. I was 9cm. My contractions sped up very quickly and, before I knew it, I was giving birth vaginally without any medications.
Our daughter was born without any complications. L was given the Apgar test and scored a 9. After L and I were tested and checked over, we were given the “good-to-go”.
My birth experience was AMAZING and perfect and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. My daughter and I were healthy and safe which is exactly what every mother wants. I couldn’t have done without my wonderful husband and midwife. They literally held my hand the entire time. They stuck by me even when I might have second guessed myself on being able to do it.
I know that for our next child I will have the same birthing plan because, for me, natural is best. If anyone tells you, you won’t be able to handle having a baby naturally they are WRONG (unless you are high risk). I had a lot of people tell me, “you’ll probably change your mind and get that epidural” or “its a lot of pain, you’ll probably get an epidural”. In the end its “mind over matter” and you are capable of anything.
Thank you for having me doll! You seriously are a great person to chat with and I love having things in common. It makes experiences like mine above, all worth the while to share with others.
Daneilia recently posted..Breastfeeding for the Mommy
I love a good birth story 🙂 So glad you got the experience you wanted! How wonderful it is, giving birth. I’m a birth junkie, myself, so I get it. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my place today as well.
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