Splish Splash!

Seth loves baths. Before she was born, he committed Penny to the same love.

Turns out she loves them, too.

Penny's Birth Story: In Words AND Pictures

I finished my email with, "still no sign of Penny." It was Monday, June 7, and that statement was totally accurate. People had been asking me for weeks if I'd had any contractions (though I always changed that word to pressure waves--Hypnobabies). Nope. I knew from the very beginning of my pregnancy that I wouldn't have any signs of labor (birthing time) until I was actually in it. As I was getting ready for bed Seth said, "Penny will be here soon."

"She'll be here in two weeks," I responded and kissed him goodnight. All night long I dreamt that I would be having a baby the next day, and even in my sleep I growled at Seth. How could you get my hopes up like that? I woke up at 5:00 a.m. on June 8, and even with my recent pregnancy-induced insomnia, that was early.

"Odd," I thought. "I haven't had period cramps in months." I peace-cued myself back to sleep (again, Hypnobabies). I woke up at 7:00 a.m. on June 8. Another cramp, another peace cue. When my third cramp came at 9:00 a.m., I decided I better fess up.

"Now, I don't want to get your hopes up," I started, but saw that it was too late. As soon as I said those words Seth’s face turned into the Cheshire Cat’s. I explained about the pattern of my period cramps and Seth yelled, "Those are PRESSURE WAVES! I'm calling Rachel." My doula confirmed his declaration and added that we'd probably have a baby within the next 12-24 hours.

If my birthing time really was imminent, I decided I’d better get ready. For a home birth that meant baking a Party Chip birthday cake, vacuuming and mopping my floors, and making sure Seth had his swim trunks handy.


During my preparations my pressure waves were becoming very consistent; every 3-4 minutes and lasting for about 50 seconds. During each wave I would use my peace cue to enter hypnosis and become relaxed and comfortable, then I’d keep cleaning.

"Do you want me to call your midwife?" Seth asked every two minutes.

"Nope," I would respond and slip deeper into a pressure wave.


Seth couldn’t take it anymore. He called Suzanne and asked her when she HAD to come over. She said we could wait until I was feeling discouraged (which I didn’t think would ever happen), or if I felt like I needed to poo (yeah right, like I’m gonna admit that I poop), or if I started to feel nauseous. Uh-oh. I was feeling nauseous. I told Seth he’d better have my birthing team come.

Around 2:00 p.m. Suzanne arrived and gave me an internal exam. Ouch! What happened to my peace cue? I felt better when she said that I was dilated to seven centimeters.

"Yes!" I thought, "this baby will be here by dinner time."

My pressure waves picked up in intensity, and when dinner time rolled around and no baby had shown up I had Suzanne check me again.

"Seven centimeters."

WHAT! I just labored (oops, did I just slip out of Hypnobabies-talk?) for three hours and I’m still at seven centimeters?

"You may want to consider breaking your water," Suzanne suggested. I briefly considered and decided no. I wanted this to be a completely natural birth–not just drug-free, but intervention-free as well.

I continued laboring.


I had dropped all signs of Hypnobabies, though my doula was still trying to help relax me using their techniques. I just focused on staying alive.

Breathe, Emily, breathe.

Since I was past the painless childbirth, I started taking suggestions on coping techniques. I hopped in the birth pool that had been set up in the middle of my living room, and it was quite divine. I even fell asleep between contractions. One small problem–it was too relaxing. Suzanne checked me three hours later and I had only progressed to an eight.

"We could break your water," Suzanne offered.

It was at this point that I was extremely grateful I was at home. Had I been in a hospital I’m convinced the doctors would have pressured me into several unnecessary interventions. Maybe even the dreaded "C" word. The baby’s heart rate was perfect and so I did the only left to do.

I continued laboring.


"Let’s get out of the tub and try your birth ball," said Rachel sweetly. She’s very sweet, you know. I obeyed, though I really didn’t want the discomfort the water had relieved. I plopped my wet butt down and started rocking back and forth. My goodness, that doula really knows her stuff. My next contraction was the most intense one so far.

About an hour later I was almost fully dilated. Had I known the water would have slowed me down so much I would have skipped it all together, but my was it nice.

Around 8:40 p.m. on June 8, I started pushing my baby out.

Oh.

My.

Goodness.

Never in my life have I felt such sensations. Pain. Pressure. Determination. Pain. I leaned over my borrowed birthing ball, right up next to my living room fireplace, and I pushed.

"WHAT THE FREAK?!?"

I had no idea pushing would feel like this.

"MY BUTT!"

My dear sweet baby was in the posterior position, which is not ideal for pushing a baby out. But instead of staying posterior, she decided to flip while in the birth canal, thinking that might be more comfortable.

"OH MY GOSH!" I cried. And then I actually shed a few tears. What was happening to my body? I felt like my bum was being stretched around a freshly ripened grapefruit, which wasn’t far off.

"I can see her, Emmy!" Seth whispered in excitement.

"I DON"T CARE," I yelled. "I WANT HER OUT!"

"You can reach down and feel your baby," offered Suzanne.

"NO." I screamed. "I JUST WANT HER OUT, PLEASE!"

After 47 minutes of pushing and crying and pushing and screaming and pushing and wailing, I got her out. My beautiful Penny was born at 9:27 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8. Her head was only the size of an orange.

Seth caught her and passed her to me, then ever so sweetly put his arms around me and showered my face with gentle kisses.

"You did it, Emmy. I’m so proud of you."

I was proud of myself, too. I’m arrogant like that. I was happy it was over. I was happy my baby girl was healthy. I was happy she had hair. And I was happy to be at home.

I looked down at her perfectly formed face.


"You’re so tiny," I cooed. "You’re just so little!"
　

　
"Now someone get me some cake."


*Hypnobabies Note: Hypnobabies claims to help women have painless childbirth. While this was not the case for me, I give credit where it is due. Hypnobabies helped me relax all the way through 7 centimeters, and I will use these same techniques in my subsequent home births.

The Poor Thing

Buddy's sleepy, too.

Every time Penny wakes up in the night, Buddy briefly checks out the scene, then quickly makes his way to a quieter spot in the house.

Must be exhausting.

Congrats to Us

Seth and I have been married for seven years today. Here's what we have to show for it:

one slightly messy outdated house
one dashingly handsome dog
one tiny beautiful baby
two extremely sleep deprived parents

Life couldn't be better (except the sleep deprived part).

Happy anniversary, Love.

I can't wait to knock out the next seven years.

40 Weeks in 25 Seconds

I May Be Biased But

I think she's beautiful.

'nuff said

Dear Mom . . .

As I lay in bed at night and hear you pacing the hallway with my screaming new baby, I realize how very lucky I've been to have a mom as selfless as you.

When I wake up and see you on the couch - holding sleeping Penny safely against your chest - I realize how very lucky Penny will be to have a grandma like you.

It seems like every time my life gets difficult, you find a way to lighten the load. Thank you for spending every night with us, sacrificing your sleep so we can have ours.

You must love me a lot. And I sure love you too.

Love, your son.

Penny's Future Hair Stylist

Kate, we have a question for you.

Are mullets always white-trash?

Ultrasound vs Real

What do you think?

And the winners are:

TYLER! For guessing 7lb 2oz - she was 7lb 3oz.

REBECCA! For guessing 21 inches - She was 21.5.

LISA! For guessing TONS! of hair - I'll say.


JENSIE! For guessing "late at night" - she came at 9:27 pm. WAY after Jensie's bedtime.


The following photo is 100% non-retouched. Em did, however, buy a baby hair bleaching kit.

Just kidding. My baby's au naturale.

Penny

Good job Emmy. You are now officially the strongest woman I've ever known. Penny was born 6-8-10 (cool, huh?). 7 pounds, 3 ounce. 21.5 inches long (for anyone who doesn't know, that's LONG). She'll outgrow me before I know it.

Seconds after her arrival. My first time holding her.

Aunt Angela (Joe standing close by). Penny loves having her hands by her face. So much, in fact, that she had them by her face when she came out. Lucky Em got to push a human head and two arms at the same time.

Papaw. Loving her thick long blonde hair.

Cute little troll baby of mine. Who knew a mix of Em and I would produce Judi Dench? I do love her.


Aunt Nat. Penn better get used to her.


Maybe Buddy and Penny will be friends!?






Maybe not.


Grammy and Aunt Holl.

Penny with her cousins.

Aunt Nat playing with Penny on her lap.

Here She Comes!

Emily is doing incredibly. She falls into hypnosis with each pressure-wave.

This was taken about 10 min ago. Buddy doesn't want to leave her side.





Penny will be here shortly. Please no phone-calls or visits (yet).

Penny Age Progression

Em's REALLY not up to blogging today, so I'm (seth) doing it. Is she having her baby right now as we speak? I'm not allowed to say . . . :)

Here's what Penny has to look forward to (left side = em, right side = seth):

Newborn (yikes)

Six Months (sir chubsalot)

One Year (starting to get pretty cute . . .)


Two Years (there it is)


Three Years (penny's gonna be a supermodel child)


Also, no. Em's not having her baby, she's just lazy.


“I believe in making the world safe for our children, but not our children's children, because I don't think children should be having sex.”
---Jack Handy

And the Winner Is...

(hospital birth)

(home birth)

...Obvious.

Haven't I convinced you yet?