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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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A mom's candid 2-hour, post-birth reflections have captured the attention of TikTok users and racked up 1.2 million views.
On March 2, Sammy Estrella, 34, welcomed her daughter Sky into the world in an unexpected manner, giving birth naturally without the aid of pain relief.
The New York-based mom-of-two has posted a video to her account, @itssammyandjohn, where she can be seen in her hospital bed discussing her birthing journey.
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She told Newsweek: "The pain I felt during my unmedicated natural childbirth was unlike anything else I've ever experienced."
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Estrella, a shoe designer, had originally planned to have an epidural which is a common procedure used to relieve pain during childbirth. It involves a local anesthetic injection in the back. Statistics from the World Population Review indicate that 67 percent of American women giving birth have epidurals.
"The only reason that I ended up having a medication-free birth is simply because my labor progressed very quickly and I didn't have time to get one.
"My contractions sped up and became stronger and it was clear to the nurses and my doctor that it was time for me to start pushing—the baby was ready to come out whether or not I was," she explained.
A nationwide survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) revealed many first-time moms said the pain they experienced with their first child was better than they expected. And an epidural was the most popular pain relief method, however. there is no "one size fits all," as some women opted for both medical and complimentary techniques (breathing, water, massages).
Estrella told Newsweek: "During active labor when the pain was at its most intense, I was very scared. My doctors and the nurses made sure to remind me to breathe deeply.
"I found this helpful for pulling myself back into the moment and intentionally facing the pain instead of being afraid of it."
A couple of hours later, she decided to film how she was feeling to ensure she doesn't forget in the future. She describes the experience as "painful and incredible at the same time."
"For me, the most challenging aspect of having a natural unmedicated birth was finding the self-confidence to confront that level of physical pain and to assure myself that I can do it.
"The support from my partner, John, the amazing nurses, and my doctor that helped me wade through the pain and gave me the courage and confidence to push through it mentally and physically," she told Newsweek.
Estrella was prompted to make the video as she didn't want to forget any of her feelings following the birth.
"I was mostly in shock," she said. "I felt immensely proud of myself for pushing past the fear and bringing my daughter into the world."
So far, the video shared on March 29, has amassed 98,400 likes and 800 comments.
One user said: "YOU GO MOMMA!!! YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!!"
"This is exactly how I felt with my first birth. You truly feel like a superhero. Way to go Mama!" said another.
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