A VERY quick birth!

When they say each birth is different and that often each birth comes quicker, they are not kidding! Aurora gave us little warning that she was ready. 

Friday was a very busy day for us. They boys were staying with my parents in the motor home, so Nathan and I went to bed at 9. We had to take the pressure washer to Everest's preschool in the morning, so we were up to the school and back home before 9. We had breakfast and by 9:30 we went back to bed for a nap. I had a few small contractions while we napped, enough to wake me up, but I fell right back to sleep. At 12:40 we got up for lunch. As we were getting lunch ready (around 1) the contractions started. They were more intense than I remember at the beginning, but they were coming every 2-3 minutes and only 30 seconds or so. Nathan kept joking that I needed to wait until he finished lunch. At 1:15 Nathan started keeping track and calling everyone. At first we were not too concerned about the midwife or anyone else getting here quickly, but within 30 minutes, I was feeling the urge to push. Nathan called everyone back and let them know, labor was progressing very quickly.

Nathan was amazing, he supported me, while getting everything ready, he made the bed, filled the pool, got all the supplies ready. We thought we would have time, we had lists of things to do when labor started, we even had a labor project- we were going to bake a birthday cake for the baby with the boys. We were lucky Nathan got the supplies ready. 
My friend Heather (our photographer) got here first, somewhere between 2:30-2:45. She started taking pictures, and helping Nathan. I barely moved from my birthing ball. Soon after Heather arrived, I knew I was ready to get into the pool and start pushing. My contractions were one on top of the other (and had been since 1:45) and they were intense. I was having a very hard time relaxing. 

Nathan talked to the midwife around 3, she could hear me in the background. At that point she told Nathan she would not make the birth because I was going to have the baby soon. She had Nathan get the trays ready for the birth. Our midwives assistant arrived around 3:15, just as I was starting to push. She had a couple minutes to finish getting some trays ready before the head came out. I pushed twice for her head and once for her shoulders. The baby was born at 3:29 pm, 2 1/2 hours after labor started. We covered the baby up with a blanket to keep it warm in the water and for the first 3-5 minutes we all kept saying "he". Heather finally said, did anyone check, I think we all assumed the other person had checked. We were surprised to find out "he" was "she". We had our Aurora. 

I have heard of people saying their babies came quickly, that the baby was delivered within an hour of going to the hospital. I always assumed they were in labor at home for a while and just waited too long to go. I never thought labor could go from light to transition in 15-20 minutes. But it did. It was quick and intense, and then it was over and we were nursing on the couch.

Welcome Aurora Elizabeth, we love you!

Leaf's home water birth

I have been meaning to post about Leaf's home water birth for a while now. I wanted to post before the baby comes so those of you who have no idea what a home birth is like or why we would do another one, you can understand. This is why. It was the most beautiful, peaceful, intimate experience I have ever had. When we decided we were not having any more children, I was a little sad that I would never experience this again. Be careful what you wish for, right? Fast forward almost 2 years and we are going to have this amazing experience again (if all goes well). Home birth is not for everyone, and I am fully supportive of every woman birthing the way she feels comfortable. This is what is right for us.

Putting Everest to bed the night before. I started contractions in the afternoon, they were light until about 5 or 6 am.

Everest gave up sleeping with baby this night, he wanted to have baby be part of the experience too.

I LOVED my birthing ball, for both kids, we have it inflated and ready to go again. We also have the pool inflated, but put up on it's side so the kids DO NOT play with it (we don't want any holes in the pool!).

Around 7 am Everest and dad got up. Dad took Everest to play for the day. Thanks dad. This time he will have both kids, but he is bringing the motor home, so they will have a place to be if we have the baby in the middle of the night. He was so excited to meet his new sibling.

I started a contraction right when he woke up. I was doing my best not to let him know. Compared to his birth, the contractions were all manageable. Until the head came out, I would not describe the contractions as pain. They were uncomfortable, but not painful. I used the hypnobabies technique and let my body push him out. I only pushed once to help his head come out.

We will miss Kenya at this birth. She was good the whole time. She stayed out of the way, but checked on me once in a while. We miss you Kenya.

I got into the pool to relax, and it felt VERY good. A little too good. I relaxed enough that my labor stopped.This is one of my favorite birthing pictures.

Mom and Nathan taking a break and giving dad and Everest and update.

This was my birthing room. It was a beautiful October day. The sun was out, we couldn't have asked for a better morning. Isn't the pool so cute?

My water broke at 10 am and I got back into the pool.

My contractions were getting stronger, I knew we were close to having a baby. Nathan, my mom and my midwife were wonderful the whole time.

This is Nathan's favorite picture. Leaf is born! I love all the support I had bringing my beautiful little boy into this world. It was an amazing experience.

Everyone helping to welcome him from the womb. (Nathan and I and my mom....my midwife was there as our coach and helped when needed.)

This is Leaf, he sucked his fingers in the womb and continues sucking them to this day. The baby I am carrying also sucks its fingers. We were very blessed to get ultra sound pictures of it.

Nathan snuggling with our new born son.

Nonnie got some cuddle time too. She was happy and grateful to be there.

Nursing. We love you Leaf.

I would like to say thank you to Nathan for being amazing and supportive as a birth partner, husband, father and friend. I love you. Thanks mom for sharing this amazing experience. Thank you to our midwife for helping us find our way on this amazing journey. A very special thanks to our good friend and photography, Treya. The pictures she took were amazing and we will cherish them (and her) forever. She is an amazing photographer, I don't even remember her taking pictures. Thanks for being conspicuous! Thank you to Papa, for taking care of our other precious baby during Leaf's birth. And thank you to Leaf for being in our lives.