The Simon Surprise (My birth story)

Simon Augustine Wood arrived on Jan 9 at about 4 am - unexpectedly born at home!!

My contractions started around 4pm on Thursday evening. They were coming every 10 minutes or so, and they weren't too strong so I decided to keep my plans to go out for MNO. I'm so glad I went b/c the other moms threw me a surprise blessingway and gave me so many wonderful affirmations and well wishes. I was really touched. It was a great way to start my labor!

After I got home, I put Joseph to bed and gathered up a few last things that I wanted to take with me to the hospital. I went to bed and the contractions continued every 10 minutes or so. I couldn't really sleep; I think I semi-dozed between some of them, but by this point in my labor with Joseph, I still had almost 2 days before he was born!

Around 2:30am the contractions suddenly became harder. I thought maybe I was wussing out and failing in my relaxation techniques, but after a few of those I told Michael it was time to call our doula, Christine (around 3am). I also told Michael to call his dad to come over to watch Joseph for when we went to the hospital. The harder contractions quickly turned into pushing contractions, and after a couple of those, I got up and went into the bathroom. Christine arrived around 3:30/3:45. My water had just broken, she checked me and she could already feel the head. There was no time to go the hospital, Simon was on his way!! (Fortunately Christine came prepared with her supplies and equipment! Christine is also working toward becoming a homebirth midwife.) I decided to move to the tub, hoping to be able to take advantage of the water for a more comfortable delivery. But by the time there was enough water in the tub, I think Simon's head was already coming out, so I couldn't submerge myself. It took several pushes, but he was born by 4 am! At one point before his head was out, he actually retreated a little bit! He was big (9lbs), especially his shoulders and chest. When I saw him, I couldn't believe it - he looked NOTHING like I expected - as different as could be from Joseph. He has tons of long black hair, chubby cheeks, a round body and dark skin (or maybe it is just really red right now.)

Towards the end of my pregnancy, I encountered some issues regarding medical "status quo" procedures and my birth choices. I was either going to have to make some compromises or potentially fight battles to have things happen the way I wanted for my birth. This was a somewhat poetic end to my pregnancy since I was spared all of that and had a really wonderful birth experience, albeit unexpected.

My first labor was 50 hrs. While I didn't expect this one to be as long, I certainly didn't expect it to be this fast! I really didn't know that we wouldn't be going to the hospital until Christine said there was no way. But I was fine with that b/c I was primarily concerned with just getting the baby out! I had no fear or reservations about giving birth at home b/c I knew I was in good, experienced, knowledgeable hands.

Michael told me he didn't know we weren't going to the hospital until he heard Simon crying!

It has been really nice to be at home in my own bed, only surrounded by people who are near and dear to me. This has felt truly natural. Normally I am one to plan and prepare for every detail, but having no choice but to stay home left no space in my brain to have any anxiety whatsoever about not being "prepared" for a homebirth.

Simon is a great baby, and his older brother is loving him to pieces (sometimes literally). I feel truly blessed!