bath, used clary sage essential oil on my wrists, and I listened to my hypnobirthing affirmations. I wasn't very comfortable in the bath so I got out after 20 minutes. We had dinner and watched some TV and then we decided to go to bed to rest for this adventure. We went to bed at 9. I couldn't sleep with surges coming 10 minutes apart and I labored on the birthing ball, stretching, deep, controlled breathing, and repeating affirmations in my head (you are a rockstar! You can handle this! Every contraction means baby is closer! You can have sushi soon!). I then took a long shower until the hot water ran out. Then, I got on the birthing ball again. Finally I felt like it was getting close to the time to go to the hospital. I went downstairs, made sandwiches (hey- I didn't know how long this was going to take and I might have needed those 4 almond butter and jelly sandwiches!), and I cleaned a few things. Then, I had a 7 minute surge and I threw up; at this point my husband started doing counter pressure on my hips and he told me that he thought it was time to go. I called labor and delivery and they told me to wait until I had a solid hour of contractions 5 minutes apart and because I was a first time mom, this could last for a few days. So, I got in shower for another 30 minutes. Well, this really ramped up my surges and they started coming at 1.5 minutes apart. I got on the birthing ball while my husband loaded the truck and they slowed down to about 4-5 minutes apart. We left for the hospital at 2:45/3am. I labored in the back of truck on all fours during the 45 minute drive. I repeated my hypnobirthing affirmations and the one that stuck was "Relax." They tell you to pick a color during labor and mine was blue. My visualization was riding waves- I would imagine myself surfing with each surge, and I  just keep saying "relax" and I did my controlled breathing. We checked in to labor and delivery at 10cm dilated and +2. I told the staff I was doing a natural childbirth and I wanted to be advised of my options (my husband said that even in the middle of labor and surges I was still a lawyer!) I immediately went in to labor and delivery and I started pushing. I pushed for 2 hours with my husband holding my hand the whole way (and my leg!). I went all natural.  Baby came out with her hand folded and next to her chin so I had an internal tear that required several stitches. I did not tear externally. I did not really experience the "ring of fire." I only pushed when my body said "push." The doctors and nurses wanted me to give 3 pushes per surge but my body said 2, so that's what I did. They would say, "Ok, another!" and I would just say "No." Her head crowned for about 10 minutes before I gave it my all on the final few pushes. She weighed 8 pounds,14 ounces and was 22 inches long. 

If you are thinking about going natural, my opinion is to at least try it. I was anxious and even afraid of the pain but I just kept repeating my affirmations, breathing, my husband was incredibly supportive, and I kept thinking about the benefits for me and the baby of not taking any drugs. (I realize everyone is different and I'm not judging anyone for their choices- this is just what worked for me.) After labor, the hospital staff for the next 2 days repeatedly remarked how alert our baby was, how strong her grasp was, how strong her neck strength was, and how good the two of us looked. Did I look and feel exhausted? HELL YES. But I was awake, alert, I didn't have a delay in feeding her, and I could poop! All of these things I had read about and were the reasons for wanting a natural birth. We didn't have any complications, baby wasn't breech, and her heart rate stayed where it should so I consider myself lucky. 

Good luck ladies- it's a wild ride no matter how you get there but we all have our babies to hold at the end of it! 😍