The raw strength I suddenly possessed, which I tapped into during birth blew me away! The sheer determination and focus needed to get through each contraction, the will to push beyond what I thought were my limits - it was a powerful experience.
My daughter's birth was an intense, fast labor - less than 6 hours from start to finish. When it came down to the final pushes, despite being exhausted, I found an unknown reserve of energy and focus. It felt like a primal instinct took over, and my body took charge, guiding me through each contraction.
After she was born, I was filled with this overwhelming sense of awe - at what my body could do, and the incredible life it had created. It was a deeply empowering experience, and one that has given me a confidence I had never known before; it's an incredible gift, and one that has stayed with me ever since.