Our Beautiful Baby Girl is HERE!

[blessedmom68358]

Introducing...

: Casslyn Jacey Hope (*last name*), aka - Cassie :

Info/Stats:
Born 6/25/08 - her EDD and my grandpa's birthday
9:00 am
9 lbs even (our biggest baby by a pound!)
20 inches long

Brief story:
Our sweet little princess was born at home and in the water on her EDD of 6/25/08. Pre-labor began the previous Thursday and I then seemed to spring a leak at about midnight the following Tues/Wed. Obvious contractions followed. The kids were in bed. I called my DH home from work and also called my midwife and my mom. My DH was my rock - we walked, listened to music, and tried to rest (but I couldn't). My midwife and her assistant were amazing! My parents showed up about 7am (perfect timing!) from three hours away.

Labor was too good to be true up to 9cm. I was laughing between contractions (and wondering how?)! They were strong, but I was getting breaks and feeling empowered. It wasn't bad to complete with just a little anterior cervical lip...but then everything changed... Pushing was very, very difficult (more so than ever before), long, and intensely painful. It turned out that I was dealing with shoulder dystocia and a cord wrapped around baby's neck twice. It was a very difficult process and I thank the good Lord for my highly skilled and patient midwife (who did a lot of manipulating to help her out while having me change positions to open up my pelvis more through pushes) as well as the breaks (which I didn't understand at the time) He gave me between ctx so she didn't come down too fast and limit her oxygen. Her heart tones stayed steady throughout. Had I been in the hospital, it would have pretty obviously ended up being a C-section birth.

I plan to type out a detailed birth story at some point, but I'm still very emotional about it all. My midwife said she hoped that I was very proud of myself for doing all of the hard work that it took to get her here. Definitely not the "ordinary"... That comment brought tears to my eyes, since, on the contrary, I felt defeated and was disappointed both in myself and at how it all ended up playing out...not the peaceful moment I had envisioned at all. We have a healthy baby, though, and are so blessed. I'm working on focusing on the positive and the fact that I did actually - and finally - have my baby in the comfort of our home. I did it! (Wow!) All the while, baby and I were surrounded by love and family. Due to her presentation and wide shoulders, I did end up with a second degree tear that was deep (not long) and needed five stitches. Thank goodness for my herb baths and ice packs!

Our family is over the moon in love. Here are some belly pics and select snapshots from right before and after she was born. Most of them (my favorites) aren't on the computer yet. I plan to put together video clips and pics to share at some point, but I'm a little busy, sore, and overwhelmed right now.

Baby Bump
Belly Collage w/my girls:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...lage08tiny.jpg
Belly pic of my DH & I:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ma/JMbelly.jpg
Belly cast:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../100_8072r.jpg

Labor & Here She Is!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...laborhug-r.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...borpool2-r.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ebornmom-r.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../100_8194r.jpg

First Meetings
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...etCassie-r.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...tsCassie-r.jpg
Daddy (wearing his "signature" green shirt - tradition when we have a new baby)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ldCassie-r.jpg
Big brothers
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ssiebear-r.jpg
Biggest sissy
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...okCassie-r.jpg

Our Brand New Girl
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ieweight-r.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...sieclose-r.jpg


Thanks for the opportunity to have been a part of this forum! Best wishes to all mamas and new babies.

[halaroo]

Congratulations! Cassie is beautiful!

[Kylahroo]

Congratulations! I love the photos!

[klink2]

She is so precious! Well done, mama!

[BlueMoonBean]

Congratulations!!

[catholicmama]

congrats!!!!

[saffrondaisy]

Congratulations! You did wonderful work despite big challenges. You should be proud!!

[sunmamma]

congrats mama!:

[Halfasianmomma]

Oh mama, just reading your short birth story made me proud of you. You did it, at home, in the water, and didn't end up with a section, despite the difficulties. I don't know what your expectations were, but from the point of view of a first time mama, I think you did a pretty spectacular job. And look at that gorgeous baby you made! Congrats and

[LeahC]

nak

congratulations! she is beautiful!

[PiesandAbrosmama]

Go mama: Happy babymoon!!

[Qerratsmom]

Yay! Congrats!!:

[Materfamilias]

Congrats and great photos!

[sasha1]

Congratulations!! you should be soo proud of yourself!!!

[balancedmama]

Congrats, mama! I had shoulder dystocia with my first and also was disappointed in myself that I didn't have a peaceful easy labor. I also know I would have had a cesarean in the hospital. I think it is really easy to put a lot of expectations on ourselves. I vowed to be more in 'control' this time and not complain so much - I wanted my birth look smooth and easy like so many other births I've been to. Well, it turns out that's just how I need to do it. Try not to be hard on yourself! Every baby has a journey they need to make and every birth has its own set of challenges.

[sunnymw]

You did wonderfully and you and Cassie are both very beautiful!! Congratulations!

[greenbeing]

You did an awesome job, mama!! Congratulations and enjoy your babymoon with your beautiful baby girl!

[Chalex]

!!!Congratulations!!!

[beanmakes3]

congrats...great birth story!