Charlotte Mae joined our family via home waterbirth last night (July 2) at 9:30pm!
On Thursday, I nursed ODD in the morning around 6:30, and had some pretty strong contractions ~ they were about 10 minutes apart for maybe an hour and a half, but then they just stopped. This had happened several other times, so while I was excited that things were progressing, I tried not to get my hopes up. I went to my midwife appointment at 9 and we talked about how the baby could still have a couple of weeks left (my EDD was July 4th, but she'd been predicting that I'd go 1-2 weeks past), but that it was good that my body was prepping. I was pretty crampy for the rest of the morning and afternoon, and when I nursed ODD at 3:45 I started having contractions again, 2-3 minutes apart while I was nursing but that went to 5 minutes apart when she was done. I figured they'd fizzle, so I did what I'd been doing the past several days and tried to just go about my day. They spaced to 8 minutes for 2 contractions, then back to 5. I decided to go walk around the block until DH got home (at 6) and then tell him then if things were still happening. He got home and we went for another walk, and I had 2 more contractions before telling him what was up (he was telling me about his day, I was trying to make sure he had work stuff wrapped up before dropping the bomb!
). We called the midwife then ~ the contractions were still very manageable with breathing and walking, so we told her to just call us when she got home, as she was at a prenatal. We kept walking until maybe 7, then went inside to get the house ready. By 7:45, when the midwife called us back, we were ready for her to come ~ the contractions were getting longer, stronger, and closer together. She arrived around 8:30, got her stuff set up, and by the time she was done I was asking if I could get in the pool. I got in about 8:50 and by 9:15 I was feeling the urge to push. I was worried that it was too soon but she said to just go with what my body was telling me to do, so I let myself push just a tiny bit on the next contraction. The contraction after that I full on pushed and my water broke, followed quickly by the baby's head being born in its entirety! I think her body would have come, too, but the cord was around her neck and a little short so she was slowed down. My midwife unwrapped the cord and she came out with the next push ~ second stage (pushing) was recorded as 1 minute We discussed it today, and I don't think I really pushed at all ~ my body just sortof took over, which was crazy. She had a little trouble getting breathing, but my MW gave her a couple little breaths and she started crying (best sound in the world, BTW!). She weighed in at 6 pounds 1 ounce and is 18.5 inches long. Even with the ridiculous speed with which she was born (felt like she was barrelling out of my nethers!) I didn't tear, which is awesome as I tore pretty badly with ODD even though she wasn't much bigger. I am so glad that we chose a homebirth, and really once labor was started I couldn't imagine getting in the car and driving somewhere! And, it was so nice to be at home, in my own bed when it was all said and done.
ODD is having a bit of trouble adjusting to her new sister, but hopefully soon she loves her as much as DH and I already do DH posted a blog about the birth with pics at mharen.blogspot.com if you want to see what she looks like Good luck to all the mamas who are still pregnant and to the ones with new babes!
On Thursday, I nursed ODD in the morning around 6:30, and had some pretty strong contractions ~ they were about 10 minutes apart for maybe an hour and a half, but then they just stopped. This had happened several other times, so while I was excited that things were progressing, I tried not to get my hopes up. I went to my midwife appointment at 9 and we talked about how the baby could still have a couple of weeks left (my EDD was July 4th, but she'd been predicting that I'd go 1-2 weeks past), but that it was good that my body was prepping. I was pretty crampy for the rest of the morning and afternoon, and when I nursed ODD at 3:45 I started having contractions again, 2-3 minutes apart while I was nursing but that went to 5 minutes apart when she was done. I figured they'd fizzle, so I did what I'd been doing the past several days and tried to just go about my day. They spaced to 8 minutes for 2 contractions, then back to 5. I decided to go walk around the block until DH got home (at 6) and then tell him then if things were still happening. He got home and we went for another walk, and I had 2 more contractions before telling him what was up (he was telling me about his day, I was trying to make sure he had work stuff wrapped up before dropping the bomb!
). We called the midwife then ~ the contractions were still very manageable with breathing and walking, so we told her to just call us when she got home, as she was at a prenatal. We kept walking until maybe 7, then went inside to get the house ready. By 7:45, when the midwife called us back, we were ready for her to come ~ the contractions were getting longer, stronger, and closer together. She arrived around 8:30, got her stuff set up, and by the time she was done I was asking if I could get in the pool. I got in about 8:50 and by 9:15 I was feeling the urge to push. I was worried that it was too soon but she said to just go with what my body was telling me to do, so I let myself push just a tiny bit on the next contraction. The contraction after that I full on pushed and my water broke, followed quickly by the baby's head being born in its entirety! I think her body would have come, too, but the cord was around her neck and a little short so she was slowed down. My midwife unwrapped the cord and she came out with the next push ~ second stage (pushing) was recorded as 1 minute We discussed it today, and I don't think I really pushed at all ~ my body just sortof took over, which was crazy. She had a little trouble getting breathing, but my MW gave her a couple little breaths and she started crying (best sound in the world, BTW!). She weighed in at 6 pounds 1 ounce and is 18.5 inches long. Even with the ridiculous speed with which she was born (felt like she was barrelling out of my nethers!) I didn't tear, which is awesome as I tore pretty badly with ODD even though she wasn't much bigger. I am so glad that we chose a homebirth, and really once labor was started I couldn't imagine getting in the car and driving somewhere! And, it was so nice to be at home, in my own bed when it was all said and done.ODD is having a bit of trouble adjusting to her new sister, but hopefully soon she loves her as much as DH and I already do
DH posted a blog about the birth with pics at mharen.blogspot.com if you want to see what she looks like Good luck to all the mamas who are still pregnant and to the ones with new babes!
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Charlotte and Congratulations!! Happy Babymoon to you and your family!!
