My natural birth story

I'm typically not the type to go into detail about things like this, but giving birth was one of the most incredible experiences of my life so I'll share with anyone who listens!

My baby girl was due July 12, 2018 and my plan was to go without drugs from day one. My husband and I hired an AMAZING doula, and I made sure to follow every trick she told me. Starting in my second trimester I drank red raspberry leaf tea twice a day, ate 7 dates each day, and starting in my 37th week I took evening primrose oil once a day. I was ready to meet this baby!

The day before my due date I text my doula with anxiety of having to be induced. I was only 2cm dialated and 60% effaced at my last appointment. This was terrifying to me because I've been told the likelihood of having a natural birth goes way down after induction. She told me not to worry, of course, because baby would come when she's ready.

Sure enough, at 4am on July 12 I was woken up with some pretty severe cramping that was happening about every 7 minutes but still wasn't sure if it was contractions. Everyone says you'll know when contractions start but that's a lie. I went to the restroom and discovered bloody show, so I text my doula who told me to rest up because I'd be having a baby soon! I went back to sleep for a few hours, but soon woke up to the feeling of contractions again. They were about 5 minutes apart when I asked my husband to start timing them for me. They started slowing down so I began getting discouraged that this was false labor and decided to relax in the tub for a bit.

Out of nowhere my contractions started coming about a minute or less apart and we got our stuff in a hurry and drove to the hospital. I don't quite remember the pain, but I know I was moaning through each contraction. I was wheeled up to the delivery unit where they checked me and discovered I was 6cm and 90% effaced. I felt so proud I was able to labor at home for so long and come this far already.

After a few hours of swaying against my husband through all the contractions my water still hadn't broke yet. The doctor checked again and I was 9cm and 100% effaced. She then broke my water and the pain of contractions definitely increased but I knew I was so close to meeting my baby girl it was all I could think about. About 30 minutes later I felt a strong urge to push and even though I still had 1cm to go I was able to push that out. The ring of fire is VERY real and for the first time in my labor I started to doubt that I could do it. My doula coached me through and 7 minutes later and only 4 pushes my girl arrived! She was 9 pounds, 11 ounces of amazingness.

All this to say that if you're thinking about a natural birth I want you to know that you are strong enough and your body was made for this, so please believe in yourself! I feel so blessed I was able to experience this, and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Here's Charlotte Sophia the day after she was born 😍

And here she is 2 months later ☺