Greer's Birth!
Charlotte gave birth to Baby Greer at home after
1 hour and 44 minutes of active labor on September 13, 2005 at 2:29 a.m.
Charlotte gave birth to Baby Greer at home after
1 hour and 44 minutes of active labor on September 13, 2005 at 2:29 a.m.
Length of Pushing: 14 minutes
Length of Rupture of Membranes: 14 minutes
Position During Birth: Hands and Knees
Time of Placental Birth: 2:45 a.m.
Baby's Position at Birth: occiput anterior
1-Minute Apgar Score: ten
5-Minute Apgar Score: ten
Baby's Weight: 8 pounds
Baby's Length: 20 inches
Baby's Head Circumference: 35 centimeters
Support People: Alan; Benjamin; Janice; Anna; Ingrid, CNM; Kim, RN
Charlotte:
The labor was short and intense. Overall it seemed more difficult than Ben's birth (which was 15 hours), but less exhausting. Contractions started taking some work to get through around 12:45am, which is when we called Ingrid. She arrived at 1:30am. I was vocalizing to get threw a contraction and Ingrid said it sounded wonderful. Then I threw up in a metal bowl in the sink and Ingrid said throwing up usually means you are at least 6 cm dilated. I had also thrown up at 12:45, so I was glad to hear I was probably at least that far along. I didn't have her check my cervix because that did not sound appealing with what I was going through. That last hour was really hard. I did a lot of walking and rhythmic vocalization to get through it. I went in the shower and sat on the birth ball and slapped my hand against the tiles for a contraction or two, but I didn't like not being able to walk, so I got out. Ingrid told me that getting in the shower can sometimes move your labor along--I can say I definitely don't think it slowed things down. I had been hoping to use Ingrid's portable birth tub to labor in and to maybe have a water birth, but there wasn't time to set it up, so Greer was born on land. My water broke toward the end in front of the fireplace (later Ingrid said she thinks that is when I was fully dilated). Ingrid put down some chux pads for me to walk on so I wouldn't slip. I threw myself down on one that was between the hall and the spare room on my hands and knees and started pushing. Alan got down on the floor in front of me. I hugged him around the waist and pushed her out in what seemed like a few contractions. I didn't plan on having her in the doorway--I didn't think she would come that fast!
Alan:
It was certainly intense, but amazing! We knew this baby was coming quickly! When Ingrid got to the house, she told me she didn't think we'd have time to set up the birth tub before the baby arrived - I was pretty amazed. For the most part we just stayed with Charlotte and helped her work through the contractions. She was very active and walked around quite a bit. At times I felt like I was jogging just to keep up with her.
During pushing, Charlotte wanted frequent updates about what was going on (ever minute or two). She would say, "what is going on now!" and we'd tell her. In between 2 pushing contractions Charlotte commented that the soap on my hands smelled good, which seemed a little funny at the time. It seemed such a non sequitur I just said thank you . I though it was interesting to see Charlotte develop these little rituals that helped her. One coping strategy Charlotte used for this birth was to try to be curious about the sensations she was experiencing so they would be less scary.This helped especially at the end when her hips hurt when Greer's head was coming down. During those contractions it felt like flashes of lightning were radiating out through her pelvis. Ingrid commented that Charlotte didn't go into a deep, limbic state when labor got intense like some people do, but kept talking/verbally processing things. I thought this was due to Charlotte's dialogic nature. One thing that was really cool about this birth was how little Ingrid needed to do. It felt good to have done this on our own in the way that felt right to us, and Ingrid allowed us to do that. Ingrid's presence was kind of like an insurance policy that we didn't end up needing. She was a GREAT person to have at the birth. She just radiates calm.
This picture was taken right after Greer was born. Alan sat on that little green stool with the flower cover while Charlotte was pushing. He was just squatting in front of her at first, but the weight of all of her preggo-Mama-ness on him was a bit much on his legs, so he was happy when Kim handed him the stool. Charlotte admonished her to "HURRY!" because she knew Greer was coming fast! Ingrid caught Greer and layed her down under Charlotte, who picked her up and held her close. Charlotte didn't even check to see if she was a boy or a girl until after a minute or two. Ben had been out for a car ride with his aunts, and got home just in time for the placenta to be born. Ben thought this was very interesting.
After Greer was born we went upstairs and got in bed. Greer took to nursing right away. Ben was quiet and very curious and interested in what was going on.
Alan cut the cord.
Greer getting ready to be weighed. Awww...isn't she a beauty?
Ben, the tool lover, inspecting some of Ingrid's supplies. His favorite was her flashlight.
Ingrid weighing Greer.
Length of Pushing: 14 minutes
Length of Rupture of Membranes: 14 minutes
Position During Birth: Hands and Knees
Time of Placental Birth: 2:45 a.m.
Baby's Position at Birth: occiput anterior
1-Minute Apgar Score: ten
5-Minute Apgar Score: ten
Baby's Weight: 8 pounds
Baby's Length: 20 inches
Baby's Head Circumference: 35 centimeters
Support People: Alan; Benjamin; Janice; Anna; Ingrid, CNM; Kim, RN
Charlotte:
The labor was short and intense. Overall it seemed more difficult than Ben's birth (which was 15 hours), but less exhausting. Contractions started taking some work to get through around 12:45am, which is when we called Ingrid. She arrived at 1:30am. I was vocalizing to get threw a contraction and Ingrid said it sounded wonderful. Then I threw up in a metal bowl in the sink and Ingrid said throwing up usually means you are at least 6 cm dilated. I had also thrown up at 12:45, so I was glad to hear I was probably at least that far along. I didn't have her check my cervix because that did not sound appealing with what I was going through. That last hour was really hard. I did a lot of walking and rhythmic vocalization to get through it. I went in the shower and sat on the birth ball and slapped my hand against the tiles for a contraction or two, but I didn't like not being able to walk, so I got out. Ingrid told me that getting in the shower can sometimes move your labor along--I can say I definitely don't think it slowed things down. I had been hoping to use Ingrid's portable birth tub to labor in and to maybe have a water birth, but there wasn't time to set it up, so Greer was born on land. My water broke toward the end in front of the fireplace (later Ingrid said she thinks that is when I was fully dilated). Ingrid put down some chux pads for me to walk on so I wouldn't slip. I threw myself down on one that was between the hall and the spare room on my hands and knees and started pushing. Alan got down on the floor in front of me. I hugged him around the waist and pushed her out in what seemed like a few contractions. I didn't plan on having her in the doorway--I didn't think she would come that fast!
Alan:
It was certainly intense, but amazing! We knew this baby was coming quickly! When Ingrid got to the house, she told me she didn't think we'd have time to set up the birth tub before the baby arrived - I was pretty amazed. For the most part we just stayed with Charlotte and helped her work through the contractions. She was very active and walked around quite a bit. At times I felt like I was jogging just to keep up with her.
During pushing, Charlotte wanted frequent updates about what was going on (ever minute or two). She would say, "what is going on now!" and we'd tell her. In between 2 pushing contractions Charlotte commented that the soap on my hands smelled good, which seemed a little funny at the time. It seemed such a non sequitur I just said thank you . I though it was interesting to see Charlotte develop these little rituals that helped her. One coping strategy Charlotte used for this birth was to try to be curious about the sensations she was experiencing so they would be less scary.This helped especially at the end when her hips hurt when Greer's head was coming down. During those contractions it felt like flashes of lightning were radiating out through her pelvis. Ingrid commented that Charlotte didn't go into a deep, limbic state when labor got intense like some people do, but kept talking/verbally processing things. I thought this was due to Charlotte's dialogic nature. One thing that was really cool about this birth was how little Ingrid needed to do. It felt good to have done this on our own in the way that felt right to us, and Ingrid allowed us to do that. Ingrid's presence was kind of like an insurance policy that we didn't end up needing. She was a GREAT person to have at the birth. She just radiates calm.
This picture was taken right after Greer was born. Alan sat on that little green stool with the flower cover while Charlotte was pushing. He was just squatting in front of her at first, but the weight of all of her preggo-Mama-ness on him was a bit much on his legs, so he was happy when Kim handed him the stool. Charlotte admonished her to "HURRY!" because she knew Greer was coming fast! Ingrid caught Greer and layed her down under Charlotte, who picked her up and held her close. Charlotte didn't even check to see if she was a boy or a girl until after a minute or two. Ben had been out for a car ride with his aunts, and got home just in time for the placenta to be born. Ben thought this was very interesting.
After Greer was born we went upstairs and got in bed. Greer took to nursing right away. Ben was quiet and very curious and interested in what was going on.
Alan cut the cord.
Greer getting ready to be weighed. Awww...isn't she a beauty?
Ben, the tool lover, inspecting some of Ingrid's supplies. His favorite was her flashlight.
Ingrid weighing Greer.
Posted: Tue - September 13, 2005 at 10:41 AM
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Published On: Nov 01, 2005 01:26 PM
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Published On: Nov 01, 2005 01:26 PM