This last series of childbirth classes was one of my favorites. Why? Because I was pregnant right along with my students. As I was teaching them, I was reminding myself of what I would need to do when the time came for me to have our second child. Having already had one great natural birth experience I wasn't worried or nervous about this baby. In fact, I was quite looking forward to the day of her birth, excited to see what the labor and delivery would be like the second time around.
After becoming a childbirth instructor, I felt even more prepared to have a calm, relaxing birth experience. Plus, I knew that I had to practice what I preach! :) And so, when I had my first contraction on Saturday morning at "2:11ish" as I told my husband once I woke him up, I was automatically in teacher/doula mode. I was analyzing my contractions and behaviors and figured I had a long way to go before this baby was going to make her grand appearance. I should have remembered how I tell my students a woman can progress very quickly...
Our midwife arrived around 5:45 that morning, and I was feeling bad that she would probably be at our house for quite some time and get bored waiting for the baby to come. At 6:45, I was thinking there was no way I would have this baby faster than my first, as lots of people assure you "the second time around is quicker." BUT, by 7:15, I was making those low, gutteral moaning sounds that mamas in labor make when the time is getting close for baby to arrive. I could feel the baby moving down and just let my body "do its thing."
Before I knew what was happening, the midwives were telling me to reach down and guide my baby out! I did and announced that I could feel her head. With the next contraction the midwife reported, "I can see her ears!" My husband had absolutely no idea I was even pushing (I wasn't really...again, just kind of working with my body to help the baby move on down). At this point, I had to actually keep myself from pushing, knowing that patience would help prevent tearing. When the next contraction came, I let go and out came our precious little girl!
Our Kellah Grace had arrived, making her way into the world at 8:16 am (just 6 hours and 5 minutes after my very first contraction)! She weighed in at 7 pounds exactly and measured 19 inches long. She is perfect in every way! Her birth was all I could have ever hoped for, and more -- peaceful and oh so rewarding!
And now that little Kellah is here, I am all the more excited to start my next series of childbirth classes. I love helping others prepare for the birth of their babies and feel so blessed to play a small part in making it possible for them to have a calm, peaceful, and beautiful birth experience of their own.
After becoming a childbirth instructor, I felt even more prepared to have a calm, relaxing birth experience. Plus, I knew that I had to practice what I preach! :) And so, when I had my first contraction on Saturday morning at "2:11ish" as I told my husband once I woke him up, I was automatically in teacher/doula mode. I was analyzing my contractions and behaviors and figured I had a long way to go before this baby was going to make her grand appearance. I should have remembered how I tell my students a woman can progress very quickly...
Our midwife arrived around 5:45 that morning, and I was feeling bad that she would probably be at our house for quite some time and get bored waiting for the baby to come. At 6:45, I was thinking there was no way I would have this baby faster than my first, as lots of people assure you "the second time around is quicker." BUT, by 7:15, I was making those low, gutteral moaning sounds that mamas in labor make when the time is getting close for baby to arrive. I could feel the baby moving down and just let my body "do its thing."
Before I knew what was happening, the midwives were telling me to reach down and guide my baby out! I did and announced that I could feel her head. With the next contraction the midwife reported, "I can see her ears!" My husband had absolutely no idea I was even pushing (I wasn't really...again, just kind of working with my body to help the baby move on down). At this point, I had to actually keep myself from pushing, knowing that patience would help prevent tearing. When the next contraction came, I let go and out came our precious little girl!
Our Kellah Grace had arrived, making her way into the world at 8:16 am (just 6 hours and 5 minutes after my very first contraction)! She weighed in at 7 pounds exactly and measured 19 inches long. She is perfect in every way! Her birth was all I could have ever hoped for, and more -- peaceful and oh so rewarding!
And now that little Kellah is here, I am all the more excited to start my next series of childbirth classes. I love helping others prepare for the birth of their babies and feel so blessed to play a small part in making it possible for them to have a calm, peaceful, and beautiful birth experience of their own.