Nothing can describe the excitement I feel, knowing I am finally about to meet my precious little one, the one I’ve waited so many long months for.
We prepare the bedroom for the impending birth. Put on a fresh set of sheets, lay out the birth supplies, get out a clean baby gown, hat, and booties for the new baby.
As most of my births (including the first one) have been very fast (and twice the midwife just barely made it!), my husband insists on calling our midwife as soon as I announce that I think this is “it.” She comes over and has dinner with us and enjoys the apple crisp my husband made. We talk for a while and then decide it’s late enough and the children should go to bed.
They are all giddy with excitement, knowing that tomorrow morning there will most likely be a new brother or sister to meet. They talk excitedly as we lovingly tuck them into bed, answering all the questions and giving them many extra hugs, kisses, and drinks of water. It seems impossible to sleep when something so life-changing is going on, just outside your bedroom door.
I drink Labor Aid, apricot nectar, water, and breathe through contractions. My midwife sets up her supplies. She times a few contractions, listens to the baby with her doppler. All is well, and she leaves me to labor alone with my husband, as she knows this is my preference. In the living room, my mom makes a bed on the couch for my midwife.
Around midnight, I feel “transition” coming on. It won’t be long now. This part is the most difficult. Before this, the contractions are bearable, I can breathe through them, I’m in control, working with my body. During transition, I decide I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m through. I tell my husband I can’t do this. He replies that he knows I can, I’m a strong woman, and I’ve already done it four times before. I draw strength from his presence and the knowledge that he loves me so tenderly. I can see his compassion, that he’s feeling this with me (well, okay, he doesn’t really feel it, but he has compassion for me!). We’re in this together. He squeezes my hand.
I’m pushing the baby out, and I can’t wait to meet my baby. “I can see the baby’s hair!” This is always the comment my husband makes that gives me the motivation to carry on and see this through.
And nothing in the whole wide world can compare to the sense of relief and joy when I reach down and draw my baby up to my chest. Such joy and happiness and love!
My baby is nestling close to me, both of us covered with a cozy blanket. He nurses for the first time, and we gaze at each other in wonder and love. I drink in every bit of his new little body, and I’m totally in love.
After a while the cord is cut, the placenta comes, baby is looked over by my midwife, and then baby and I enter a warm and soothing herbal bath together. Baby is calm and alert, watching me and looking around.
We get out of the bath and dress in cozy nightclothes, snuggle back in bed together. I’m hungry, so my midwife’s assistant makes me some scrambled eggs and toast. It tastes like the best meal I’ve ever had. I also have a jug of water and juice and herbal tea on the nightstand.
My midwife and doula eat and laugh and talk. They are excited to meet my new little one, and congratulate my husband and me. We’ve come to know these two dear ladies through the years, as they were also at our first baby’s birth and our fourth baby’s birth (we lived in another city when I gave birth to the other two, so we had different midwives with them).
After several hours of observation and care by the midwife and doula, they go to their own homes, where they will hopefully be able to catch some sleep that was missed the night before!
Baby and Mommy and Daddy try to sleep. I am always so excited after a birth that it is hard for me to sleep much. I doze off and on. I can’t help but look at my new baby in wonder that he is finally here!
After several hours of broken sleep, we hear the other children waking. This is one of the most exciting times, when the siblings get to meet the new baby. There is excited talking and laughing, and there are smiles all around. Everyone is careful and gentle and quiet. They pile on the bed and gaze at this precious, new little person.
Each takes a turn holding him and asking who he looks like. There are different opinions on that! Baby is so sleepy and a (little) big sister asks if he’ll always sleep this much. “Just wait,” I tell her. It won’t be long before he is interacting with brother and sisters.
The precious newborn days are so fleeting. Yes, there are many sleepless nights ahead for us. But I try to remember how short this time really lasts.
They grow up so fast. And I have been forever changed by this experience of giving birth, giving life…becoming a mother.
{Written after the birth of my fifth child in August 2009.}
*I have been so thankful for and have loved my five home births. But I realize that home isn’t always the safest or best place for every mother and baby. Every birth is different, and God has a plan for each mother and baby. Sometimes things don’t go just the way we hope or plan. And sometimes a mother just feels more comfortable at a hospital or birth center. I realize that our birth experience can be life-changing, but the main thing is getting the baby here safely. Let’s give each other grace and support as mothers, no matter how or where we gave birth to our little ones!
I love home birth! My two youngest, now 18 and 20 were born at home when it was still a little taboo. I can compare because our oldest, 23, was born in a hospital and I would do it at home a million times before I birthed in a hospital again. I had an amazing midwife thought so that helped. Anyhoo, nice to see we have something in common.
Thank you so much for sharing about your home birth experiences, Tori! All of mine were born at home, so I don't have a comparison with hospital birth, but I can imagine how much better home birth would be! 🙂
Congratulations on the home birth of your 5th baby…precious. I am expecting our 8th any day which will also be our 5th home birth. Home is truly a blessed place to be and the greeting time of excited brothers and sisters such a joy to watch from the comforts of my own bed. 😉 Lovely story of your most recent experience and may the Lord bless your upcoming days with five.
In Him,
Jarnette @ Seasons of Life