We are just getting home and settled from the birth center! Here is how the labor and birth unfolded:
Sunday morning at about 10:00 a.m. I decided to take a nap after the usual not-so-great night's sleep and getting up early with my almost 4y/o. At 11:20 a.m. my son came in whimpering because he had just hurt his foot. I had been letting him do "nummies" once or twice a day over the past week because it would cause pretty strong contractions (which I was hoping might lead to labor). He came in and crawled into bed with me. He maybe nursed for 2 minutes when I got a super strong/long contraction that led to a small pop and burst of fluid. My water! I was so surprised!
Contractions started right away by 11:30 and lots and lots of fluid gushed over the course of the next couple hours. I was doing fine at home, but decided to go ahead--especially dreading the taxi ride--to the birth center at about 2:30 with doula and DH. We got into our wonderful warm, dark, tub-filled, aromatherapy scented room by 2:45 (If any of you ever find yourselves having a baby in London, this is the most nurturing and loving place you could ever give birth outside of home http://www.thebirthunit.org.uk/, IMO). Things kind of flew from there. He was born at 4:25. I tried the tub, which felt great, but got out right as I started feeling pushy. I guess I'm a gravity lover. I really needed to be close to the floor and to feel more grounded. All went great! I guess his shoulders were a bit snug, but that just took me moving from a squat to my back for one final push to get him out. He was 9lbs 5oz! Almost 2 lbs bigger than his brother was. It must have been that extra week he had to cook
We're doing great. Happy to have the labor and birth story in history and ready to move forward with life with TWO silly boys! Thanks for your well-wishes! It means a lot!
Serena
Sunday morning at about 10:00 a.m. I decided to take a nap after the usual not-so-great night's sleep and getting up early with my almost 4y/o. At 11:20 a.m. my son came in whimpering because he had just hurt his foot. I had been letting him do "nummies" once or twice a day over the past week because it would cause pretty strong contractions (which I was hoping might lead to labor). He came in and crawled into bed with me. He maybe nursed for 2 minutes when I got a super strong/long contraction that led to a small pop and burst of fluid. My water! I was so surprised!
Contractions started right away by 11:30 and lots and lots of fluid gushed over the course of the next couple hours. I was doing fine at home, but decided to go ahead--especially dreading the taxi ride--to the birth center at about 2:30 with doula and DH. We got into our wonderful warm, dark, tub-filled, aromatherapy scented room by 2:45 (If any of you ever find yourselves having a baby in London, this is the most nurturing and loving place you could ever give birth outside of home http://www.thebirthunit.org.uk/, IMO). Things kind of flew from there. He was born at 4:25. I tried the tub, which felt great, but got out right as I started feeling pushy. I guess I'm a gravity lover. I really needed to be close to the floor and to feel more grounded. All went great! I guess his shoulders were a bit snug, but that just took me moving from a squat to my back for one final push to get him out. He was 9lbs 5oz! Almost 2 lbs bigger than his brother was. It must have been that extra week he had to cook
We're doing great. Happy to have the labor and birth story in history and ready to move forward with life with TWO silly boys! Thanks for your well-wishes! It means a lot!
Serena
