Diane and LaRue - 6 week Check up

6 Week Check up

Thalia and LaRue

I'm so glad we have such a great midwife as a family friend.
I'm very glad she's been able to take care of LaRue and I while I was pregnant and during our post partum visits.

I know I'm going to miss seeing her and Diane for our appointments.

Thank you Thalia!

Our Midwife

LaRue makes the 9th baby that our midwife has helped with in the last 6 years.
Mom assisted her for many of those plus 2 other home births.

While she didn't "catch" LaRue ... well, she, or one of the assistants, did everything else.
She DID catch Joel and do all the post partum with him.
She caught 3 of Rhoda's.
And 2 of Karen's.
And both of Ruth's.

Nine babies.
Wow.

By the end of 2009 - my parents will have 24 Grandchildren.
Only 3 of those wil NOT have been delivered by a midwife.
We think that's pretty awsome.

LaRue is HERE

Just a short update - I'll see about a full birth story later ... although knowing me, this will be enough for most.

The highlights were

At my baby appointment yesterday, my blood pressure was high plus a few other small problems that made us question and then send me to the hospital for evaluation.  They admitted me and by evening the plan was to attempt to start labor by breaking her water - and if that failed, then C- section as a last resort.

I didn't get much sleep, and the first attempt to break her water failed at 7:00ish in the morning.  An hour or so later, we tried again with success.  Since I was very tired and it would take a few hours to get labor started, they gave me a very low dose of pain meds and I was OUT pretty much for the next 3 hours.

Shortly after noon, contractions went from very strong and far apart, to nearly constant and maximum strength on their charts.  Back labor is not fun - and I always have back labor.  The nurses and nurse midwife were very patient with me and enouraging. 

I'm not really sure how they did it - but LaRue was born at 2:19.  I got to hold her immediately ... well, they did suction her and get her to cry first.  Kendra and Vannan were at the birth.  Tim was a huge help during labor.  I'm afraid that I wasn't very quiet during those 2 or so hours.  But I've recovered quickly and I'm doing very well.  

LaRue has some bruising on her face from the birth, but passed her pediatric check up with flying colors.  We think we'll keep her (WINK).   Joel got to sing Happy Birthday to her.  About 5pm, half of town (or felt like it) came by to see LaRue.

Just now, Tim has her curled up beside him on the fold out bed and they are both asleep.  So sweet.

In all, I think it was a wonderful birth - not what I wanted, but as close as we could come under the circumstances.   And we were very impressed with the nurses and the midwife team and the doctor here that works with them.  So very different from when Joel was born and there was no choice but a C-Section.

Baby Bump Pictures

Tim took this a while ago with his cell phone from inside his office. I think I was about 27 weeks here, maybe just past the 26 week.

I've got to get somebody to get a better picture.

I love baby bump pictures - but I'm something of an odd bird in my family, most avoid the camera while pregnant.

This is the last picture taken while pregnant with Kenrda - 35 or 36 weeks. She was born at 37 weeks and 2 days.

That's Vannan. Mom took that on the Saturday before Vannan was born - her due date. She arrived 2 days later on our 7th Anniversary.

And here I am in labor with Joel. My water had broken several hours before. He was only a little past 37 weeks too, 4 or 5 days. And exactly 7 days after my birthday.

7 seems to show up a lot in our family.

New Life On A Homestead » Blog Archive » Why A Home Birth? Here are my 33 reasons…

New Life On A Homestead » Blog Archive » Why A Home Birth? Here are my 33 reasons…: "Why A Home Birth? Here are my 33 reasons…"



A great list - in my opinion - and I would add that I like that I can have any family and friends I want to be with me at that time - we are looking forward to having Kendra and Vannan at the birth and to help with anything that they can and are able to - like keeping everyone in drinks and snacks for a longer birth, and being gofers if needed. Not everyone would agree with this - but they do both plan to be Mommy's some day, and I feel it gives them solid benefit to have experienced a birth before it is their own.

Click on the title for her reasons.

Keeping our Midwife Busy

This is Thalia - a wonderful friend and our "family" midwife.
So far she has delivered Joel for me, and Matthew and Esther for my best friend Karen.
My mom was able to assist with all 3 of these births.

She also delivered 3 of Rhoda's babies - Alex, Avery, and Valarie was not yet born.

These pictures were taken at a party given to celebrate her years as a midwife - I don't remember if it was 20 or 25. But there sure were a lot of kids running around!

She has also delivered my other local sister's older daughter, Shianne. But was not able to get to Miya's birth. She has a very qualified staff though who filled in as well as if she had been there in person.

I think midwives are great!

Thalia's Website

---------------------------------------------------

Thalia noticed that the google ad has a link to a site to promote hospital births. I DO NOT agree with the link - but cannot figure out how to block it right now.

So let the record state that I am VERY pro home birth. I would rather have 100 home births than ever again be subjected to the indignity and horrors of another hospital birth.

Here are some links that you might want to check out if you do think hospital births are safe.

Natural Birthing Options: Technology in Birth- First Do No Harm

Natural Birth is Best

Other relavent articles