Cleo

Well my friends, we did it. The "Marathon of Labor" is over for a few years.  Here is a little glimpse into how we spent our Sabbath yesterday.

4:13am - Contraction woke me up.

4:20am - Another contraction that woke me up.

4:46am - Chris called our midwife, Heather Johnson, to report.

5:06am - Needed counter pressure through contractions.  Poor Chris was frantically moving furniture out of the living room, trying to set up the birth pool, and be there for me when I needed him.  He was getting a workout for sure.

5:49am - We were hoping Cam would sleep straight through the morning, but the pump for the pool woke him up.  He was wanting attention that we couldn't really focus on him at that moment, so we called my Mom and she came to play with him.

6:00am - Heather arrived and put an IV of antibiotics in me, for Group B Strep.

At some point I got in the birth pool.  It was much needed relief.  Labor is such a mental game.  I was trying to stay on top of it, but towards the end kept asking how much longer it would be.  I was extremely thankful to have pretty good breaks/rests between contractions even right up to the end.  Using voice really helped me with labor, so it was a little cacophonous in our house.

The midwives broke my water upon my request and it was maybe 3 contractions afterwards that I said, "I'm getting her out in one push."  The midwives kind of advised against that, as it would increase my likelihood of tearing, they said if we ask you to slow down you should slow down.  But when the next one came, I pushed, and then I stopped, and it didn't feel better, so OUT SHE CAME!  What an amazing, beautiful, relief to finally have her in our arms.  (I did tear, but that was something I was willing to deal with at the moment.  Later when I was getting stitched up I thought maybe I could have been more patient.)

The midwives stayed, helped, cleaned up, did the newborn exam and everything until after 11:00am.  Cleo nursed, Chris slept, I was in and out of sleep but kept getting woken up by afterbirth pains.  Chris made me oatmeal, cantaloupe, and applesauce.  We watched Return to Me, sobbed and laughed then got up and moved around for a bit.

Camden went to church with my mom and played all day over there.  Actually he slept from 2 - 7pm, he's not used to being up at 5am!

It was nice having some time for Chris and I.  We talked and laughed about Cleo's birth, played Phase 10, and just caught up.  We don't get to talk much with me working days and Chris working nights.

One thing I had wanted when she was born was for it to be in the night/early morning and then all of a sudden we could just announce she was here safe and sound!  And with the exception of my mother knowing and being here, that is what happened!  It was wonderful.  Nobody had to be worrying about how it was going or anything.

She weighed 8 lbs 10 oz, 21 inches long, born at 7:26am.

 

 

Taking care of a newborn again is crazy.  They need you in such a different way than a 3 year old.  She looks so much like Camden, it is like deja vu.  So thankful for loving friends and family who are so supportive and loving.