Well, Owen Tage* Benson graced us with his arrival at 12:20 am today! Owen weighed in at 9lbs even and 22 inches long. We were shocked he weighed that much because he looks so small! He's got dark hair and deep blue eyes. As for place of arrival - he was born at home in our bedroom... and yes, it was on purpose!
We didn't really tell anyone we were planning a home birth because we planned it at the last minute. It's something we had considered and researched beforehand, but weren't committed to until about two weeks before my "due date" (thankfully that date was wrong!), when I had the overwhelming desire to just birth this baby at home! Everything fell together in the nick of time - I ordered my birth supply kit on my "due date" and had it overnighted, and got everything else set and ready to go that week. I have strong feelings about how I think birth should be treated (at least for me) and with every weekly visit to my midwives at the hospital, I was less and less excited about being in the hospital environment again for a birth, even though I had a birth plan and a fantastic
Doula lined up. We prayed a lot about the decision as it's obviously a big change to make so close to the end, and in spite of our initial doubts we eventually felt peaceful about moving in that direction for this birth. We found two wonderful midwives to take care of us, and let me tell you it is a completely different kind of care than you get from a traditional obstetrics practice - I even had prenatal visits in my own home as well as one of my midwives'.
As for labor this time (if you don't count all the warm ups and false hopes during the week leading up to it!) it was 8 hours total, and about 5 1/2 of "active" or the tough stuff! Much improved from my 28 hour marathon labor with Eli. I only had to push for ten minutes to get him out, but it was intense I will say! To sum up the entire labor and birth experience, it was INTENSE, EMPOWERING, SACRED, PEACEFUL, JOYFUL and AMAZING. It was an incredibly bonding experience for Brad and I because it really felt like it was just the two of us getting through it together. Brad was right there by my side, in my face supporting me and talking me through every tough contraction whether that meant rubbing my back, holding the heating pad, or just letting me yank on his neck and yell in his ear.
I'd had some strong contractions throughout the day and was really hoping this would be it. Brad gave me some Osteopathic cranial treatment (gentle manipulation of the fascia in the head) the night before, and I tried to encourage things by going up and down the stairs ten times in a row, dancing around the living room with Eli, and going grocery shopping! The contractions suddenly got uncomfortable and regular about 4:30 pm - just after I ate dinner, just as Brad was getting home, and just before the midwives arrived for my scheduled visit! They listened to the baby, got a final tour of the house, and went home to get their things ready. By 7pm I had my Enya music playing, my Gold Canyon cinnamon-vanilla candle burning, and I was in the shower and begging Brad to get upstairs and help me! He was with me non-stop from then on. I labored in the shower, the tub, on my exercise ball, leaning over the bed, and sitting on the toilet (never once in bed!). Lol We called the midwives when contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart... I was afraid we were calling too early because I couldn't believe things would be moving that fast, but I also recognized the feelings from that point in labor from when I had Eli and trusted that I HAD to be getting close (or else I was going to want to give up!).
The midwives arrived about an hour before Owen was born and went about quietly, respectfully, and lovingly supporting us, never once interrupting our rhythm. In fact, I never even got "checked" (for dilation) - how great is that! I once asked them to check because I HAD to know if I was getting close, but just then my water broke (thankfully in the bathroom!) and I started pushing with the next contraction... so we headed back into the bedroom and ten minutes later we had a baby! I delivered Owen in a kneeling squat in our bedroom, with Brad and the midwives there to catch him, and hand him up to me immediately. He was a little "floppy" right at first but I got to hold his little warm and wet body while the midwives got him going - something I didn't get with Eli and had so looked forward to! He let out a few good cries and pinked up well in the next few minutes. I just felt so rewarded to have him in my arms after all that hard work! My mom was also able to witness his arrival, and Eli (thankfully!) slept through the entire thing! I still can't believe my mom was able to get him sleep with me hollering in the next room, especially since he won't go to sleep for anyone but me! That was truly another answer to prayer. Oh and one funny/odd fact - our bed sheets got stained, not from the birth but from a darn bloody nose! Yesterday Eli hit me in the nose with a tennis ball (we were playing catch) and I ended up with a gusher and a bruise. Well, it reopened when I was leaning over the bed in heavy labor and I had a darn bloody nose to deal with all through the toughest part of labor and up until pushing! That makes it hard to do any relaxed breathing I tell you what!
The midwives were so awesome at the birth - it was like having another mother and sister there with us and not just a birth "professional." They were so caring and nurturing through the whole process... they cleaned up everything - including spots on the carpet, did laundry, cooked us breakfast, cleaned the bathroom, and stitched me up! Has an OB ever done all that for you? Lol. I used to think that homebirth was "weird" and that only "hippies" did it. But I can tell you that for us, it just felt so natural, peaceful and beautiful just to have Owen arrive in our home and cuddle right up with him in our own space with no unnecessary intrusions. The midwives will come here for several post partum visits, and Owen's pediatrician even made a home visit today to check him over - isn't that great! They will send someone from the office to our home also to do the pku (bloodwork) testing. What more could you ask?!
This morning we were all still up and the midwives were just leaving at 5am when Eli woke up crying. Brad brought him to our bed so he could nurse back to sleep and he never even noticed Owen right there in bed with us! It was so precious to spend our night together all snuggled up in our OWN bed as a family (recovery is so much nicer in your own home too!). We got a few hours of sleep and introduced the boys to each other later in the morning. So far, Eli seems just fine with having a little brother. He calls him "baby" of course and likes to look at him, give him kisses, and try to show him things, but so far isn't overly interested or jealous, which is a good thing! One funny thing he tried was pretending to nurse with his face right up next to Owen's as he nursed... I didn't post that picture but it's cute, lol! So overall, we are doing well albeit somewhat tired, and we feel so blessed to have this little angel join our ranks. Newborns are just so pure and precious, and Owen has left me feeling like I don't quite know what we did to deserve him!
*Tage is pronounced "Tah-guh" - it's Swedish after my great-grandfather.
Baby Game Winners :
Heidi Benson for date - 11/8
Bridget for size - 9.0 lbs
Dad Benson for length - 22"
Shianne for time - 12:38am was the closest to 12:20
