Hello again blogging world! I'd say an almost three year hiatus from blogging has been more than enough. And what an occasion I have for updating. Please welcome along with me and Paul, our firstborn son: Elijah Stephen Smith, born February 20th, 2012. I want to get back to sharing since we have so many dear people who've been asking about our lives, my birth story, and our son. So let's start off with pictures, pictures and more pictures, and I'll see about filling in the gaps as we go.
37 weeks pregnant with Elijah at Garden of the Gods the weekend before he was born
My belly at 37 weeks pregnant
So thankful I got to labor at home, even though I don't look it :)
Paul and his support were amazing!
Elijah is born
Hello Son
First family photo
Happy Dad
Father and son
Our doula Tiffany
Mom flew in that night from Texas
Here are some portions of our doula, Tiffany Miller's notes from our labor and delivery.
Monday, February 20th, 2012
8:43am – Called Tiffany to report contractions 10-12 minutes apart.
9:30am – Mom calls Tiffany and describes what she thinks is SROM as a "big gush" (turned out later to be the fore-bag, not a full rupture)
8:43am – Called Tiffany to report contractions 10-12 minutes apart.
9:30am – Mom calls Tiffany and describes what she thinks is SROM as a "big gush" (turned out later to be the fore-bag, not a full rupture)
11:00am – Mom eats eggs and toast. Hydrating well.
12:30pm – Mom’s temp about 99F. Tiffany arrives.
12:58pm – Mom’s mood pretty "up," still able to talk during contractions, though needing support. Dad very excited, and making lots of funny little comments, making Mom laugh
1:00pm – Contractions about 5 mins apart, 45 secs long. Both Paul & Heidi very chatty, listening to worship music. Mom staying primarily in master bedroom and bathroom. Mom lying down between contractions, but compelled to get UP during the contractions. Tiffany reminding her to come down as each contraction recedes, and to relax in between.
1:21pm – Tiffany palpated fundus, Baby kicked her hand. Tiffany put Clary Sage & Orange on a wet cloth for aromatherapy. Mom commented that she really like the orange.
1:48pm – Mom’s temp 98.7F. Gave her vitamin C lozenge. Dad packing up final things, getting car ready, and working out logistics for plane tickets for Grandma.
1:59pm – Mom pulls her hair up. Paul: "Your hair looks really pretty right now, babe." Mom (during a contraction): "Thank you, honey."
2:00pm – Mom gets in shower, Dad heads to Burger King to get something to eat.
2:58pm - Dad arrives home, staying close to Mom.
~Heidi: "Honey, in the pantry on the bottom shelf are some wintergreen mints."
Paul: "You want me to get you some?"
Heidi: "They’re for you, sweetie."
Paul: "Oh! Okay – wintergreen. Got it." Comes back with giant handful, which he stuffs into his pocket. "Don’t mind my rustling noises – it’s just my mints."
Heidi: "I really wish I could be funny right now."
3:14pm - Mom thinks it might be time to head to the hospital. Tiffany times a few contrations. They are 3 mins apart, 40-60 secs long.
4:22 – arrive at Evans’ triage room. Baby’s HR is 130bpm – and doing well. Mom’s BP is 147/94, a little higher than they’d like, but still within normal. Kara is the triage nurse, offers a cervical check. Mom consents, and is able to relax long enough to find out that she is already at 9cm!
5:10pm – Mom admitted and shown to L&D room 9. Mom preferred a low chair in between contractions, and standing during. She would hold onto Paul’s arms and vocalized quite a bit. Tiffany prayed over both Mom & Dad a couple of times.
Mom began to doubt her ability, but Paul and Tiffany reminded her that this was normal, and that it signaled that she was almost done.
Lindsay (CNM) came in to check on Mom, and found an anterior cervical lip. Tiffany encouraged Mom to get on hands & knees
6:30pm - Mom began pushing spontaneously
7:04pm – Baby was born easily, with cord worn as a sash over one shoulder, which is what had slowed him up just a bit. Mom’s eyes were closed, and Tiffany encouraged her to open her eyes and hold her baby. It took Mom a moment to realize he was really here. Mom and baby were left to bond and check each other out.
Mom: I couldn’t have done this without you guys!"
Paul: "I’m so proud of you, honey. You’re amazing!"
8:10pm - Baby rooting quite a bit
Tiffany heads out to the car and brings stuff in for Mom & Baby room.
9:25pm – Baby weighs in at 5lb, 15.8oz and measures at 19" long.
9:45pm – Everyone moved to Mom & Baby room #19, Tiffany takes her leave.
12:30pm – Mom’s temp about 99F. Tiffany arrives.
12:58pm – Mom’s mood pretty "up," still able to talk during contractions, though needing support. Dad very excited, and making lots of funny little comments, making Mom laugh
1:00pm – Contractions about 5 mins apart, 45 secs long. Both Paul & Heidi very chatty, listening to worship music. Mom staying primarily in master bedroom and bathroom. Mom lying down between contractions, but compelled to get UP during the contractions. Tiffany reminding her to come down as each contraction recedes, and to relax in between.
1:21pm – Tiffany palpated fundus, Baby kicked her hand. Tiffany put Clary Sage & Orange on a wet cloth for aromatherapy. Mom commented that she really like the orange.
1:48pm – Mom’s temp 98.7F. Gave her vitamin C lozenge. Dad packing up final things, getting car ready, and working out logistics for plane tickets for Grandma.
1:59pm – Mom pulls her hair up. Paul: "Your hair looks really pretty right now, babe." Mom (during a contraction): "Thank you, honey."
2:00pm – Mom gets in shower, Dad heads to Burger King to get something to eat.
2:58pm - Dad arrives home, staying close to Mom.
~Heidi: "Honey, in the pantry on the bottom shelf are some wintergreen mints."
Paul: "You want me to get you some?"
Heidi: "They’re for you, sweetie."
Paul: "Oh! Okay – wintergreen. Got it." Comes back with giant handful, which he stuffs into his pocket. "Don’t mind my rustling noises – it’s just my mints."
Heidi: "I really wish I could be funny right now."
3:14pm - Mom thinks it might be time to head to the hospital. Tiffany times a few contrations. They are 3 mins apart, 40-60 secs long.
4:22 – arrive at Evans’ triage room. Baby’s HR is 130bpm – and doing well. Mom’s BP is 147/94, a little higher than they’d like, but still within normal. Kara is the triage nurse, offers a cervical check. Mom consents, and is able to relax long enough to find out that she is already at 9cm!
5:10pm – Mom admitted and shown to L&D room 9. Mom preferred a low chair in between contractions, and standing during. She would hold onto Paul’s arms and vocalized quite a bit. Tiffany prayed over both Mom & Dad a couple of times.
Mom began to doubt her ability, but Paul and Tiffany reminded her that this was normal, and that it signaled that she was almost done.
Lindsay (CNM) came in to check on Mom, and found an anterior cervical lip. Tiffany encouraged Mom to get on hands & knees
6:30pm - Mom began pushing spontaneously
7:04pm – Baby was born easily, with cord worn as a sash over one shoulder, which is what had slowed him up just a bit. Mom’s eyes were closed, and Tiffany encouraged her to open her eyes and hold her baby. It took Mom a moment to realize he was really here. Mom and baby were left to bond and check each other out.
Mom: I couldn’t have done this without you guys!"
Paul: "I’m so proud of you, honey. You’re amazing!"
8:10pm - Baby rooting quite a bit
Tiffany heads out to the car and brings stuff in for Mom & Baby room.
9:25pm – Baby weighs in at 5lb, 15.8oz and measures at 19" long.
9:45pm – Everyone moved to Mom & Baby room #19, Tiffany takes her leave.
2 comments:
Cool :) Interesting that ya'll decided on having a doula - what made ya'll make that decision??
Heidi, I love your blog post and I love remembering all the joy of experiencing the first two weeks of Elijah's life and of you and Paul becoming parents. I can hardly wait to see you next month!
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