Our little girl was born at home on Sunday morning at 5:55am. She weighed 7 lbs 14oz and measured 20 inches. The birth was incredible! Will update when I'm not nak 
Kirsten's Birth
What an amazing experience! As you all know, I'd been having annoying, and even painful contractions nightly for about 3 or 4 days that just would get moving and then peter out. On Friday night I swore it was the real thing. My midwife came, checked me and I was 3cm and 100% effaced. Once again, the contractions slowed down and stopped. Saturday morning there was nothing. By the mid-afternoon, I was having an occasional contraction and by 6:00pm, I thought I should start timing them. They increased in intensity until about 10:00, when I got into bed and then they slowed way down again. ARGH! At midnight I woke up and figured I should call the midwife again. She suggested that laying down was preventing the baby from pressing her head onto my cervix and instead, I should "do the hula" every time I had a contraction. WOW! Did that ever work! My mw arrived around 2:30am and I was 8 cm, fully effaced and deep into transition.
Now, all along I'd been "hoping" for a HBAC, but really hadn't planned on it 100%. My bags were packed for the hospital and everything, but when I saw how far along I was, and thought about spending 1/2 hour in the car and checking in, and getting IVs and all that crap, I told the midwife to just set up in my bedroom. DH came in and said, "So, it looks like we're having a baby here!" Anyway, I hulaed through transition, standing the entire time and walking around between contractions. I was moving and on my feet for the next 2 hours until I felt a very strong urge to push. At that point I leaned over my birth ball, on my knees and pushed her out in about 6 or 7 good hard (and PAINFUL) pushes! DH caught her sweet little body . Amazingly, I didn't tear or even get a skid mark! She had a little trouble starting breathing for a minute or so, but then we heard a nice cry and she pinked right up. She's a wonderful, sleepy little girl who already thinks my boobs are her personal 24-hour restaurant.
DS and DD were mesmerized! They woke up at around 7:00am and came into our bedroom. The look of wonder on their faces to see Mommy laying in bed with their new baby sister was amazing.
Kirsten's Birth
What an amazing experience! As you all know, I'd been having annoying, and even painful contractions nightly for about 3 or 4 days that just would get moving and then peter out. On Friday night I swore it was the real thing. My midwife came, checked me and I was 3cm and 100% effaced. Once again, the contractions slowed down and stopped. Saturday morning there was nothing. By the mid-afternoon, I was having an occasional contraction and by 6:00pm, I thought I should start timing them. They increased in intensity until about 10:00, when I got into bed and then they slowed way down again. ARGH! At midnight I woke up and figured I should call the midwife again. She suggested that laying down was preventing the baby from pressing her head onto my cervix and instead, I should "do the hula" every time I had a contraction. WOW! Did that ever work! My mw arrived around 2:30am and I was 8 cm, fully effaced and deep into transition.
Now, all along I'd been "hoping" for a HBAC, but really hadn't planned on it 100%. My bags were packed for the hospital and everything, but when I saw how far along I was, and thought about spending 1/2 hour in the car and checking in, and getting IVs and all that crap, I told the midwife to just set up in my bedroom. DH came in and said, "So, it looks like we're having a baby here!" Anyway, I hulaed through transition, standing the entire time and walking around between contractions. I was moving and on my feet for the next 2 hours until I felt a very strong urge to push. At that point I leaned over my birth ball, on my knees and pushed her out in about 6 or 7 good hard (and PAINFUL) pushes! DH caught her sweet little body . Amazingly, I didn't tear or even get a skid mark! She had a little trouble starting breathing for a minute or so, but then we heard a nice cry and she pinked right up. She's a wonderful, sleepy little girl who already thinks my boobs are her personal 24-hour restaurant.
DS and DD were mesmerized! They woke up at around 7:00am and came into our bedroom. The look of wonder on their faces to see Mommy laying in bed with their new baby sister was amazing.
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