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And Baby Makes Five
By miranda | October 19, 2011
The Annett family is happy to announce the arrival of Seamus Moriarty Annett on October 18th, 2011 at 5:48pm. Â He weighed in at 3780g (8 lbs. 5 1/2 oz.) and measured 52cm long.
The birth was an amazing experience. Â We chose to have a midwife attend, as with our previous two children, but this was the first time we chose to have the birth in our home. Â Labouring at home without worrying about timing transportation to a hospital or birthing centre was very freeing. Â The only thing to decide was when to call the midwife, and that was fairly easy to determine. Â I had a few irregular contractions early in the morning, but nothing very intense. Â We called my Mum to come over and watch the kids (and to take Sophie to play school, as she loves it so much there was no reason to miss out). Â Shortly after lunch Mum and Rachelle took the kids to Mum’s house so Harry and I could relax and focus together on the task at hand. Â We went for a walk (on a beautiful autumn day) and when we returned home, my contractions became more regular. Â We called the midwife and pretty soon decided it was time for her to come. Â Harry set up the birthing pool in the dining room and things continued to progress. Â The intensity ramped up but never approached anything unmanageable. Â Kerstin (our midwife) was very unobtrusive and hands-off, letting Harry help me through, only offering the occasional words of encouragement. Â I got in the pool, still progressing nicely, not stressing out when Harry had to help the second midwife with directions to our home when she called from nearby, lost. Â Harry was my rock, offering any limb I needed for support during contractions, even considering my history with squeezing hard enough to cause injury. Â My man never complained (because he knows what’s good for him!). Â Pretty soon it was time to push, a phase that to me feels euphoric, the power that fills me as I help my little ones out into the world. Â Seamus came quickly and smoothly, three pushes and Harry caught him under the water and lifted him to my breast. Â As soon as he left the water he let out a mighty squall to let us know he was healthy and here! Â A boy, a boy, a beautiful baby boy. Â A cut cord later and I was helped to our bed while Harry carried our boy behind me. Â Such a relaxing experience, from beginning to end. Â Propped up in bed I received Mum and Rachelle and the kids as they rushed back over, meeting Seamus before he was half-an-hour old.
In the aftermath, I was a little surprised to find how little time had passed. Â Seamus’s birth was faster than Desmond’s but it felt far less rushed and intense. Â Having him at home made all the difference. Â Having Harry and I so completely focused on each other, both of us confident in me and my body, helped this to be a beautiful, peaceful, relaxing experience. Â Yes, those are the words I am using to describe giving birth, and I feel so, so blessed for this.
Topics: baby, Birth Story | 2 Comments »
October 20th, 2011 at 5:51 am
Wow. Nicely done.
October 20th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
I love you so very much. I cried reading this. So so so so happy for you. I cannot wait to see you all again & meet Seamus.