I had some requests to share how was the last moments during my pregnancy and my birth experience, so here we go...
*Third Trimester:
By the end of my third trimester I was really big and people were asking me if I was going to have twins sometimes lol. I had lower back pain, to sleep was not comfortable and car rides was bad as well. I would get tired standing for too long or sitting for too long. My practice was modified completely and I was playing more with some positions I liked than doing my traditional Ashtanga practice. I was meditating a lot, everyday and sometimes two or three times a day. I was chanting a lot too, having more an introspective and meditative type of practice. Overall I felt really good in my body and my mind. I also taught yoga classes to the day I gave birth. Somehow that kept me active and in a good mind/body condition.
*Planning Birth Experience:
In the beginning I had in my mind to give a birth at home, but I got discourage by my doctor saying that here in Poland is not like Netherlands that if an emergency happens the whole crew in the hospital would be already ready for me. So I decided to have the birth in the Hospital. I researched first and this hospital was good for natural birth. I wanted my birth to be completely natural. No epidural, no laughing gas, no injections with substances, no episiotomy ( the cut in the perineum ), delay in the umbilical cord and if is possible to take my placenta home. My doctor was also surprise that I didn't want C-section because most of the Brazilian women do. Doctor said the baby would be likely to born on November 28 or 29.
* Birth Experience:
On Tuesday, November 23 I had a long day... going up/down stairs..I live on the 5th floor with no elevator! So not easy with a almost 10 months belly. Then I went to teach a Mysore class at night about 20 minutes distance from my home. The walk was funny...I started feeling really heavy and I felt more pressure down in my pelvic area than usual. I managed to arrive for class...I remember moving really slow and my adjustments were more soft than usual to the students. After class I went back home... to go up on the stairs was hard. As soon i got home I felt the pressure increased and it was a feeling like I needed to evacuate. The pressure was irregular in time but getting stronger. I went for a bath and after called my mom. She said with her was the same and told me I was in labor so I dressed up and went to the hospital. Very soon the sensations became very regular like every 3 minutes. I was already tired...you know long day before. The intensity of the pressure and pain became more and more stronger. I took several showers, I used the bath tube and a pilates ball and I was squatting a lot. Mateusz was with me all the time giving me massages and helping me to walk because I didn't have strength to do it on my own.
I vomited with so much pain when I was between 5 or 7 cm dilated don't remember.... and the only thing that helped me was conscious breathing. After vomiting I went for the pool/bath tube at 2:35 am... It was nice and relaxing but I could not be there for more than 40 minutes otherwise the heat of the water could stress the baby. In the bath tube I had magical moments from extreme pain to moments of beauty and grace and I can not really define in one word the sensations. The breath was my guide and my priority . I got 9 cm open in the tube. The process of opening is also a mental work. I had to allow myself to do it, for that there is lots of surrendering and letting go. But at this stage there is no going back.
The nurse, such a sweet angel she took me to the bed because i was so tired-3:31am. I was 9 cm dilated. It was the hardest moment in my life as pain, insecurity and doubt and I thought i could not endure longer and I had no strength left to do it. Then so quick I had my full dilatation and the nurse brought a puff where I was half squatting and half reclined. 3:42 am After pushing twice the head was out (I let my body push instead me pushing). I relaxed completely and I was breathing really calm. She told me to touch his head and feel his hairy head. Then automatically my body started wanting to push the rest...She told me to hold so I would have no tears but my body didn't wait and it pushed him out 4:05 am. I had a very little tear on my perineum but I was happy that I didn't have any episiotomy.
*After birth:
Then he was in my arms...all that hair and the smell. It was not most beautiful and sweet smell I could ever ever imagine. I had a few stitches on my perineum and then I had to birth my placenta. My placenta was huge. The whole birth process was about 5 hours and 15 minutes which is not bad.
The nurse didn't cut the umbilical cord right way, she waited until the cord didn't have a pulse then she did. I started breastfeeding right away and then I felt I became a mother.
More blablabla:
There is no easy way to give birth. I was scared if something went wrong if I had to take an epidural or have a C-section. I wanted a full natural birth and I did it. Lots of people tried to scare other women about their birth choices. Its important to stick with your dream and wishes and know you will have the strength to get through. Thousands have done that and I knew I could done the same. Other fact for me is that I like to feel life as it is. If there is pain I will embrace as I embrace joy. I love life with all the mysteries, pain, joy and excitement. I felt curious of how is the pain and joy to have a natural birth. I don't know if I have lived before other lives, if I ever will or if I just have this life to live so its better for me to live without regrets. I didn't want to erase or hide the pain and I have no regrets. There is some type of magic after giving birth with no medication. I don't know if is the hormones but I felt really powerful mentally, like i could endure anything after that.
*Archive:
Home shower during contractions
*Third Trimester:
By the end of my third trimester I was really big and people were asking me if I was going to have twins sometimes lol. I had lower back pain, to sleep was not comfortable and car rides was bad as well. I would get tired standing for too long or sitting for too long. My practice was modified completely and I was playing more with some positions I liked than doing my traditional Ashtanga practice. I was meditating a lot, everyday and sometimes two or three times a day. I was chanting a lot too, having more an introspective and meditative type of practice. Overall I felt really good in my body and my mind. I also taught yoga classes to the day I gave birth. Somehow that kept me active and in a good mind/body condition.
*Planning Birth Experience:
In the beginning I had in my mind to give a birth at home, but I got discourage by my doctor saying that here in Poland is not like Netherlands that if an emergency happens the whole crew in the hospital would be already ready for me. So I decided to have the birth in the Hospital. I researched first and this hospital was good for natural birth. I wanted my birth to be completely natural. No epidural, no laughing gas, no injections with substances, no episiotomy ( the cut in the perineum ), delay in the umbilical cord and if is possible to take my placenta home. My doctor was also surprise that I didn't want C-section because most of the Brazilian women do. Doctor said the baby would be likely to born on November 28 or 29.
* Birth Experience:
On Tuesday, November 23 I had a long day... going up/down stairs..I live on the 5th floor with no elevator! So not easy with a almost 10 months belly. Then I went to teach a Mysore class at night about 20 minutes distance from my home. The walk was funny...I started feeling really heavy and I felt more pressure down in my pelvic area than usual. I managed to arrive for class...I remember moving really slow and my adjustments were more soft than usual to the students. After class I went back home... to go up on the stairs was hard. As soon i got home I felt the pressure increased and it was a feeling like I needed to evacuate. The pressure was irregular in time but getting stronger. I went for a bath and after called my mom. She said with her was the same and told me I was in labor so I dressed up and went to the hospital. Very soon the sensations became very regular like every 3 minutes. I was already tired...you know long day before. The intensity of the pressure and pain became more and more stronger. I took several showers, I used the bath tube and a pilates ball and I was squatting a lot. Mateusz was with me all the time giving me massages and helping me to walk because I didn't have strength to do it on my own.
I vomited with so much pain when I was between 5 or 7 cm dilated don't remember.... and the only thing that helped me was conscious breathing. After vomiting I went for the pool/bath tube at 2:35 am... It was nice and relaxing but I could not be there for more than 40 minutes otherwise the heat of the water could stress the baby. In the bath tube I had magical moments from extreme pain to moments of beauty and grace and I can not really define in one word the sensations. The breath was my guide and my priority . I got 9 cm open in the tube. The process of opening is also a mental work. I had to allow myself to do it, for that there is lots of surrendering and letting go. But at this stage there is no going back.
The nurse, such a sweet angel she took me to the bed because i was so tired-3:31am. I was 9 cm dilated. It was the hardest moment in my life as pain, insecurity and doubt and I thought i could not endure longer and I had no strength left to do it. Then so quick I had my full dilatation and the nurse brought a puff where I was half squatting and half reclined. 3:42 am After pushing twice the head was out (I let my body push instead me pushing). I relaxed completely and I was breathing really calm. She told me to touch his head and feel his hairy head. Then automatically my body started wanting to push the rest...She told me to hold so I would have no tears but my body didn't wait and it pushed him out 4:05 am. I had a very little tear on my perineum but I was happy that I didn't have any episiotomy.
*After birth:
Then he was in my arms...all that hair and the smell. It was not most beautiful and sweet smell I could ever ever imagine. I had a few stitches on my perineum and then I had to birth my placenta. My placenta was huge. The whole birth process was about 5 hours and 15 minutes which is not bad.
The nurse didn't cut the umbilical cord right way, she waited until the cord didn't have a pulse then she did. I started breastfeeding right away and then I felt I became a mother.
More blablabla:
There is no easy way to give birth. I was scared if something went wrong if I had to take an epidural or have a C-section. I wanted a full natural birth and I did it. Lots of people tried to scare other women about their birth choices. Its important to stick with your dream and wishes and know you will have the strength to get through. Thousands have done that and I knew I could done the same. Other fact for me is that I like to feel life as it is. If there is pain I will embrace as I embrace joy. I love life with all the mysteries, pain, joy and excitement. I felt curious of how is the pain and joy to have a natural birth. I don't know if I have lived before other lives, if I ever will or if I just have this life to live so its better for me to live without regrets. I didn't want to erase or hide the pain and I have no regrets. There is some type of magic after giving birth with no medication. I don't know if is the hormones but I felt really powerful mentally, like i could endure anything after that.
*Archive:
Home shower during contractions
Mateusz with the crew. Mateusz was my doula too :P The lady in Pink was my sweet nurse angel.
Labor in the bath tube.
Right after birth. Surya is now literally with us :D
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