Joshua Ryan - 04/05/06 - 7lbs, 2oz - 21 inches
Ah, where to begin!?
Well, on 4/4 I was having pretty regular contractions. They were just about six minutes apart, but not really strong enough for me to be convinced that it was *the real thing*. I took a hot bath and headed off to bed - only to be woken up at about 4 am with contractions so hard that I could barely stand them. They were only lasting about 30 seconds each, but since they were still going strong by 9 AM, I decided to give a call to my midwife.
After speaking with her on the phone for about ten minutes, she decided that this was definately labor. She put a team together and then she and her assistant arrived at my house around 11:00 AM. We talked for a little while and then they set up my room for the birth. Things were progressing, but not quickly, so she and her assistant went out to grab some lunch while I walked around and tried to keep things going.
The next few hours were spent just hanging out. At around 8 PM my water broke - and that's when the contactions became really intense! We watched gilmore girls and ate cake while i labored. I waddled around the room trying any position I could to get through them. That kept up until after midnight. Finally, I *swore* I had to poop and I ran into the bathroom. After sitting on the toilet for about five minutes I realized that poop was NOT what was about to come out of me! My midwifes came into the bathroom and I just dropped on my hands and knees on a bath mat. They threw some chuck pads under me.. and VOILA! Joshua Ryan appeared four pushes and eleven minutes later. He came out screaming and was immediately passed to me through my legs like a tiny football. It was amazing. Chris and I were immediately in tears!
The midwifes cleaned up the mess, started the laundry, gace Joshua his vitamin K, weighed him, and went on their way. Chris and i snuggled up in our bed with Peanut and cuddled for a while. After that Peanut latched onto my breast like a pro and hasn't stopped since! He is so beautiful. When I look at him all I do is wonder how I have survived these last months without him.
As far as *I* go, I am feeling great. I only tore a tiny bit and needed one little stitch. Physically, everything else is great... I feel like i could run a marathon. I can honetly say that chosing a home birth was the best possible decision we could have made for our family. It was simple, beautiful, and felt so safe.
Here's a picture of our little man!
You can keep up to date on Joshua by visiting The Peanut Chronicles.
Love,
Jenna
Ah, where to begin!?
Well, on 4/4 I was having pretty regular contractions. They were just about six minutes apart, but not really strong enough for me to be convinced that it was *the real thing*. I took a hot bath and headed off to bed - only to be woken up at about 4 am with contractions so hard that I could barely stand them. They were only lasting about 30 seconds each, but since they were still going strong by 9 AM, I decided to give a call to my midwife.
After speaking with her on the phone for about ten minutes, she decided that this was definately labor. She put a team together and then she and her assistant arrived at my house around 11:00 AM. We talked for a little while and then they set up my room for the birth. Things were progressing, but not quickly, so she and her assistant went out to grab some lunch while I walked around and tried to keep things going.
The next few hours were spent just hanging out. At around 8 PM my water broke - and that's when the contactions became really intense! We watched gilmore girls and ate cake while i labored. I waddled around the room trying any position I could to get through them. That kept up until after midnight. Finally, I *swore* I had to poop and I ran into the bathroom. After sitting on the toilet for about five minutes I realized that poop was NOT what was about to come out of me! My midwifes came into the bathroom and I just dropped on my hands and knees on a bath mat. They threw some chuck pads under me.. and VOILA! Joshua Ryan appeared four pushes and eleven minutes later. He came out screaming and was immediately passed to me through my legs like a tiny football. It was amazing. Chris and I were immediately in tears!
The midwifes cleaned up the mess, started the laundry, gace Joshua his vitamin K, weighed him, and went on their way. Chris and i snuggled up in our bed with Peanut and cuddled for a while. After that Peanut latched onto my breast like a pro and hasn't stopped since! He is so beautiful. When I look at him all I do is wonder how I have survived these last months without him.
As far as *I* go, I am feeling great. I only tore a tiny bit and needed one little stitch. Physically, everything else is great... I feel like i could run a marathon. I can honetly say that chosing a home birth was the best possible decision we could have made for our family. It was simple, beautiful, and felt so safe.
Here's a picture of our little man!
You can keep up to date on Joshua by visiting The Peanut Chronicles.
Love,
Jenna
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And what an awesome story.
