Your Natural High

[DoulaFelicity]

Birthing women who don't accept any interventions or medications during their labour experience an unadulterated "natural high" of major proportions in the period immediately after their babe is birthed. This manifests in different ways for every woman, but it a sensation not soon forgotten, and a wonderful gift from our bodies.

I entered a plane that seemed to be not of this world; I shook mightily, my eyes were wide and bright, my body felt suspended in time and yet extremely animated; I felt alive, vibrant and vital. My happiness could not be put into words, and I stammered and gasped. All tiredness was gone despite my previous exhaustion and very, very hard work. I felt real and dazzling. I travel back to that place when I need to recharge now.

Share your experience of your "natural high" at the end of your natural birth. :)

[Supermum]

I remember when birthing my second child I was much more aware of my body and what it was doing than with my first. I had no pain relief with either labour.

I distinctly recall the wrenching pain of labour stopping for what felt like a lifetime, I told my midwife that I had no pain, my labour had stopped and I closed my eyes, ready for a sleep. I heard her say that it wasn't over but it wasn't far away now.

When my body was ready, I gave it everything and helped my baby girl into the world. Thoughts of labour gone. My baby was delivered immediately onto my chest where she proceeded to look for some comfort. She screamed blue murder until my nipple and her mouth connected. She peed on me ... twice and I laughed. I felt like I had just conquered a great mountain ... without the lethargy. I felt powerful, empowered, together. Singularly focussed on my new baby, so unaware of my surrounds ... I can't even remember delivering the placenta. I just remember the pure joy. After quite some time my husband and I cut the cord together. Time was such a foreign concept and to think of it or even consider it seemed obtrusive of my natural birth.

My beautiful midwife took a photo of Carter and I when she was perhaps only a minute old. She is screaming on my chest and I am looking straight into the camera, calm, flushed, eyes gleaming and mouth in a confident grin. I certainly don't look like a woman who just birthed a child!

And when I think of it now, it still has the capacity to bring tears to my eyes.

[DoulaFelicity]

That was a beautiful example, Deborah; thankyou for sharing your story. :)

[Jamily]

Hello

I think I am still on that natural high - 19 weeks later!! My birth experience was by far and away my proudest achievement. Unforunately I can't go into details as DD is stirring, but suffice to say that I felt no pain, no fear, no exhaustion, just bliss.

:)

[LucyE]

I didn't get that natural high until a bit after the birth. I put it down to the gas I had while they were stiching me up and the other interventions towards the end of the labour.

Once we was alone in our room, after all the family and midwives had left, I flet an amazing sense of calmness as I watched him sleep next to me in bed. I was just so happy and proud, I couldn't stop smiling at DS. And though I was absolutely exhausted an hour earlier I was suddenly revitalised and couldn't sleep even though it was past midnight.

[Bec]

It's great to read your wonderful experiences! I am practising hypnobirthing for the birth of my baby in February and I am really looking forward to having a great birth and experiencing these natural endorphins that are releaseed after giving birth.
It's nice to hear some positive comments rather than the negative comments most women make about birth.

[DoulaFelicity]

I guess it depends a lot on how you see birth, Bec. :) If you see birth as a normal, natural, physiological process, that women are innately capable of, then it becomes a positive, life-affirming, enjoyable process. If it's seen with fear, or misunderstood, it can certainly be seen in a negative light. Your HypnoBirthing will equip you wonderfully to enjoy your birth experience. :)

Thanks for your stories, ladies - keep 'em coming!

[jaydensmum]

I'll never forget it for as long as ill live. I had a very long labour that went on for 30 hours! I had no sleep at all during labour and my pushing stage went for 4 hours. It was so amazing i thought that i would be that exhausted i would crash. After the baby was born, it was the total opposite. I had this boost of energy and i cant describe it. It was like someone had given me a huge shot of caffeine but in a good way. I didnt go to bed till 9 hours after he was born! :eek: All the nurses kept coming in and asking me when i will go to bed and i told them that im so energised. I remember i couldnt wipe the smile i had on my face everytime i saw him. I couldnt stop touching or looking at him. It was so incredible and i cant wait for someday when i can do it all over again.

jaydensmum