BIRTH STORY

I'd been holding off posting our latest birth story, in hopes of getting the pictures back from the midwives, but I haven't yet.  So I'm going to go ahead and start this and maybe in the meantime, I'll get the pictures from them.  (Scheduling blog posts is a lovely thing!) 

You would think after giving birth 5 times, it would get to be "routine" almost.  Nope.

Each and every one of our kids has something unique about their birth.  Grant is no exception.

Baby number six was due in the beginning of December.

We were going the same route as last go around..homebirth with the midwives.

I had been stockpiling all the necessary stuff for a couple of weeks and was due to get the birthing tub in the coming week (week of 11/16) to have the final touches.

Let me preface all this by saying, as I have said previously, November is a very busy month for us.

I think it has been extra busy this year due to the construction and trying to get the house ready for a new little one.  I'd been moving furniture and all that nonsense for a good portion of the month.  Mike is quick to point out that moving the organ by myself the day prior to birth, probably wasn't the wisest thing to do..*shrug* I won't tell him that taking the air conditioner out was probably worse than moving the organ.

It had to be done.  I did it.  

I'm glad I did!

Well, it was a rough couple of days organizing, moving things, baking all day for the joint birthday party, chauffeuring the kids around to cooking class and doctor appointments etc.  I was on my feet a lot and doing a lot of lifting.  I'd been achy from all of it.  Plus this baby had been head down and low for several weeks.

I woke up early Sunday morning, November 16th, somewhere between 3:30 and 4am.  I didn't know why at the time, but I couldn't go back to sleep.  I went to the bathroom and back to bed.  Just as I was trying to go back to sleep (the last time I remember looking at the clock, it was 4:40am), I felt a sharp, rather painful, pop.  I thought it was an ill placed kick, but got up once again for the bathroom.  Only to find that my water had broken...and continued to come in gushes for the rest of the morning.

How many gallons are in there anyway?!!

This was a new experience for me.

Previously, if my water had broken or been broken--a baby followed pretty much IMMEDIATELY!

I was not having contractions or in any pain at all.

I woke Mike up..probably got his adrenaline going, hearing me call him from the bathroom in the wee morning hours!

I called the midwives right away.

We still had a couple of weeks, 2-3, until due date 

and it is policy that one has to reach 37 weeks in order to have a homebirth.

So, Mike and I weren't sure if we were going to have to pack everyone up and travel or if they would come to us..but it worked out.

Our midwife, Lisa, said she'd be on her way..get everything ready.

I told her I didn't have a tub yet.

We went ahead and set everything up that we could..er..Mike did that.

I still wasn't having any contractions or anything, and wasn't really prepared to have a baby..I mean cleaning the bathroom had been on my to-do list for Saturday, but I hadn't gotten to it.  It really needed cleaning.  No time like the present.  I didn't do a deep clean, but did manage to get the toilet cleaned and the sink and mirror wiped down.

Then we sat down to wait for the midwives to arrive.

It was rather nice to have time (and not be in pain).

We put on some music and started the coffee pot.  Mike went outside to take care of the animals.

The midwives

 (one midwife, one assistant, and one midwife in training) arrived somewhere around 6am.

(My times may be a bit off, I wasn't concerned with checking the time)

They did some paperwork, got the tub set up, and started filling it.

Still no pains that were signalling labor.  

I had an exam and found out I was at 3cm and 75% effaced with the head hard on the cervix.

At this point, the midwives said we are going to go and hang out somewhere close by (which ended up in the driveway sitting in the car!)  

As Lisa said, a watched pot never boils.

I appreciate that.  Very much.  It must have been 7:20 or so by then.

They went outside, I went into the bathroom.  I had started having contractions, but nothing regular but real.  When they got to 2-3 minutes apart (7:50am) I headed out to the living room to get in the tub, which was mostly filled by that time.  Mike had given them the high sign--(even though I hadn't even given him one!) and everyone was waiting.

Where were the kids at this point?

Sleeping or in bed.

Michael and Carina both woke up and used the bathroom and went back to bed.

I got into the tub and labored for another 20 minutes or so, and Grant Theodore was born at 8:30am.

Once labor got going, it was about an hour.

Grant is our smallest baby.

He weighed in at 7lbs and 5oz. and 20" long.

He also shares a birthday with Jared!  Crazy!

He was covered with THICK vernix.

These pictures were taken after he was wiped down.

I held him in the tub for awhile.

Mike cut the cord.

The kids all came out while I was still in the tub, but Grant was born.

Travis was the first to see his new brother.

A little early, but perfect. 

(I had a haircut scheduled for this past week..it would have been nice to get that in before birth, but hey!)

We saw the pediatrician yesterday and all looks well.

Grant weighed 7lbs 1oz on Thursday.

He is eating well.

He latched on right away and is having no problems in that area.

He is like a little bird opening his mouth when he is hungry, there is no mistaking it.

Meeting his new brother and birthday present!

Jared is doing really well with him.

No real jealousy or anything (at this point).

Jared will come over and pat Grant's head or pat his belly.

Biggest and smallest.

Birthday buddies!

Biggest sister.  Littlest brother.

I can't believe I don't have a picture of Rian holding him.

She is the most "interested" and "baby crazy" of the bunch..Mike must have a picture.  I'll have to find one soon.

**edited  Here she is!**

I'm missing one?

Ah, Travis.

He has not held Grant at all.

Nor is he interested in holding him to date.

Grant is because we liked it.

Theodore (as following our tradition of middle names being family names) was my great-grandfather's first name, my grandfather's middle name, and my father's middle name.  Yeah, family name.

Grant sleeps more during the day at this point than he does at night--hopefully that will change soon.

He doesn't cry much either.  He will just hang out and look around.  It is rather funny, I did not buy any newborn diapers or anything this time around, anticipating a larger baby. Even Michael was over a pound larger, though he was a summer baby.  Travis and Jared were both November, but so much larger!  All the clothes he has are huge on him!!  I did find two or three pieces today that will fit.  He is seriously tiny!  Especially for us!  LOL.

Six children!

Did I cover everything?

Any questions?

We praise and thank the Lord that all went well.

I am doing well.  Grant is doing well.

Welcome to our newest Rosebud.