Q & A about the birth

I've loved all your comments and questions. I will be more than happy to tell you about the delivery.. but give me a second. He's only three days old. It was so awesome and wonderful and intense that I just can't spit it out like I want to. I will take it a subject at a time. For now-- here's a simple Q&A.

Did you REALLY have the baby at home? Yes. This was the plan from day one and I was fortunate enough to experience it the way I wanted to. This was my big frustration with early labor, small baby, etc. Bedrest was really important to me and I am so grateful he waited as long as he did to come.

He was born in my bedroom. My husband, my midwife, a nurse and the most incredible DOULA (birthing coach) were present. My kids were home but not in my bedroom for the delivery. They were coloring and playing downstairs :) They came upstairs about 10 minutes after he was born.

No drugs? No drugs. I've wanted natural births for my other babies but have never been able to do it. This time, drugs weren't an option. And I didn't need them! I think I set myself up for something MUCH worse than what it was. It was seriously incredible to be fully aware of what was going on. Painful? Absolutely. But more intense and exhausting than excruciating. I knew I could do it and it was liberating! I am WOMAN!

Do I think this is for everyone? Of course not. Only crazy Granolas have their babies at home. My husband was not on board until after he was born. I told him I would be willing to go to the hospital if there was ANY sign of an emergency. We live 2 minutes from a hospital. I felt very calm and relaxed since the time I made the decision to deliver at home. It was right for me and for my 4th baby.

Widwife or Doctor? There is no question in my mind that midwives are the way to go, if circumstances allow. No question. My widwife is a mother of 6. LDS. Homeschooling mom. My appointments were usually on a Saturday morning. Zero wait. Our visits were more like therapy than they were medical visits. I was empowered throughout this pregnancy and knew I could read my natural instincts rather than rely on medical experts to tell me how I was feeling.

If I could have had it my way, I would have delivered in a hospital with a midwife, but it's not legal here in NV (lame.) Now that I have gone through the experience, I cannot imagine going back to the hospital (obviously unless it's best for me and the baby.)

Didn't you miss the nurses taking care of you and your baby after delivery? I have never had a bad hospital experience, but I don't consider the post-delivery in the hospital room ideal. HOW are you supposed to recover from such a delivery with a nurse coming in every hour to check your blood pressure and temperature? Just a few hours after delivery, my three older kids crawled in bed with us and we read scriptures as a family with the newest little member. It was heavenly. I slept wonderfully in my own, comfortable bed. 12 hours of sleep the first night-- 7 solid without being woken at ALL. Simon and I were both obviously very tired!

How's the recovery? well, it's only day three.. and it's rough. (Even though I don't have any stitches to recover from.) It's been a while, so I might have forgotten, but I think it might even be worse than my other deliveries... but that could be due to the fact that I've had zero drugs (except for a bit of Ibuprofen) and the fact that my mom can't be here to help me with the other kids.. and the fact that my husband is swamped at work. He went back Monday. I really miss him and hate that he has to work for a living.

More to come later... nursing baby ready to eat..