Just a disclaimer here this post is pretty heavy on birth language. If you are a guy or if birth makes you uncomfortable, then please skip this post. My daughter was born June 4 of this year. Giving birth to her was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I had made a goal early in my teens to have a natural birth. A youth leader described how beautiful her natural birth experience was and from then on I was inspired. I had planned to have a natural birth with my first, but I went into it unprepared and decided to get the epidural during the transition stage. I never regretted my decision. I felt for that birth my decision to not go natural worked really well for me and my family, and I was happy with it and my new little baby.
Fast forward 18 months when I find out that I am expecting baby number 2. Early on I wanted this birth to be different. I had since joined a natural birth Facebook group that helped to educate and provide advice that helped me throughout my pregnancy. I attended a natural birth conference in Utah which was AMAZING, and helped me to learn more about managing the pain of a natural birth. I also found a wonderful Doula Madison Burke. She was so supportive and knew exactly how to help me. Doulas are so worth the money if you plan to have a natural birth.I personally feel like they are invaluable in the natural birth process.

While I did everything I could to prepare, I don't think anything can prepare you for the pain. It is truly was intense and consuming.  I managed the first few hours on my own at home. I listened to my labor playlist and was able to breathe and relax through the first stage of labor. When contractions were 3 minutes apart we dropped little man off at a friends and we met the Doula at the hospital. Natural birth in a hospital is difficult. Many policies such as lying in a bed, and fetal monitoring make giving birth more uncomfortable, but it is a great option if you feel more comfortable in a hospital than at home. We met my Doula at the hospital after I was checked in. I was placed in triage because my contractions began to slow once we got to the hospital. This is a normal for many moms because a new environment, and monitoring can slow labor down. Kind of like a watched pot.

With my Doula's help and some clary sage we got the contractions coming more and I was able to be checked in. I was then able to move around and labor more freely. At this point I began to move into "Laborland", which is a mental state of calm and "out of itness" that helps the body to deal with labor. It is very much like a natural high, and it helps to keep you calm and to progress in your labor. As I began transition I began to shake and shake. I had to just ride the shakes and breathe through my contractions which were becoming more and more intense. Finally around 2:30 in the morning I decided that I did not want to keep going. I was only at 6cm and felt like I wanted the epidural so I could relax. Both my husband and my Doula tried to get me to reconsidered, but I had made my mind. It was over a half hour before the anesthesiologist came and meanwhile my contractions were getting more and more intense. As the doctor tried to find the right vertebrae to insert the catheter, baby girl started to crown. There was no time for the epidural, and so came the most white hot pain that I have ever experienced.  With one push she was delivered, and in an instant my pain was gone, my beautiful baby was in my arms. I felt so much joy and was so proud that I had the natural birth that I wanted.

Natural birth is hard and intense. It was the most physically demanding thing I have ever done. It was an amazing experience. Was it worth it? It was worth being able to achieve one of my biggest goals. However I do not think that I will plan for another natural birth.