Harris Shenanigans : Levi's Birth

When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to do a home birth. In the past, I have always had midwives, and always had no pain medications, and always delivered in a hospital. There is a hospital 2 minutes from my house and I have had really good deliveries in the past, so I felt I was a good candidate for a home delivery. I thought it would be a fun adventure. And I was right. I LOVED having the baby at home. No unnecessary IV's bld draws, uncomfortable beds, bad food, starvation, pitocin post delivery, and midnight vitals. My midwives came to me for the delivery, set up my room, started post delivery laundry and came back for 2 day baby visit. It was awesome.

The set up

So Levi's story started the day before his birthday. Soren's birthday is Oct 10th and since my due date was Oct 2nd I decided to do his friend B-day party on Sept 14th, so I wouldn't have to do his party after I had a new born or have to cancel it because I was in labor. His party went great, but was exhausting as they all are. I was exhausted and relieved when it was all over. I was excited for the following week because I would finally get to do the projects I wanted to get done before the baby came. That night Ryan and I went out on a date - dinner and a movie. I originally wanted to have the date sleeping in our bed because I was so tired, but he convinced me to go and we had a good time. During the movie I noted regular minimally painful contractions. Nothing new as I would have this for several hours every couple of days for the last 2 weeks. These ones didn't stop and by 3am, the contractions were every 2-3 minutes but still not that painful - however more painful when I was laying down. Luckily I have magical sleeping skills and despite the contractions I was able to sleep about 5 hrs in 1-2 hr increments. I called my midwife at 7am - to let her get a good night rest and because I although I thought I was in labor and the contractions were regular, I didn't think they were that impressive. The day was Sunday and my midwife came around 8:30 am and checked me and I was at a 2cm and 75% effaced. Because of my past delivery history, she was willing to break my water - which was really nice. She came from Seattle and I think she didn't want to have to come back down in the middle of the night. So it was a win win for both of us. We waited until we could get my kids off to church with some friends. In the past once my water was broken, my labor really picked up and with both my other pregnancies I delivered about an hour later. My sister Janea arrived and they broke my water at 9:30. However, instead of becoming really impressive, my contraction frequency slowed down. Uh, oh. I worried we just set me up for trouble. But instead of listening to that, Janea and I went walking. I have never gone walking to encourage my labors. It was fun - but only because I was with Janea and we talked and laughed the whole time. Ryan took a nap during this period, getting ready for his new life. My midwives had to check the babies heat tones every 30 minutes, and if we weren't back in time, they would walk out and find us and listen to the baby on the street. Talk about good service! Anyway, by 11:30 we came in to make lunch for everyone. Well, Ryan and Janea did most the work. I just snacked on all the food while it was being prepped. Which was good, because once lunch was really ready, I wasn't hungry anymore. My labor really started going and my contractions were painful enough people could tell I was having them. I had to stop and what I was doing and breath. So I went and laid down while everyone finished lunch. My contractions were still quite far apart 5 minutes or so and this never really sped up. Even though my labor was longer, it was almost easier because of the breaks. Janea was awesome to have around because she can carry on the most interesting conversations with anyone and so I could just listen to everyone talk and chime in as pain allowed. I liked the noise. I guess most people don't. They rather have it dark and quiet, but I like the extra stimulation to to take my mind off of everything. by 2:26pm it was time to push - the part I hate the most. It is so painful and I just don't like it. When my neighbor Janine found out I was having a home birth she said, "Oh my Gosh! I am going to leave my windows open so I can hear you scream!" I found this ridiculous and upsetting. I thought to myself "I don't scream, please." Well, when I was pushing this baby out I totally screamed, and then I remembered I also screamed when I had the others too. I seriously don't like that part. Luckily by 2:29pm he was born. Only 3 very long minutes of misery. He weighed 8#5oz, 21.5 inches long with a 14 inch head and was 37.5 weeks gestation. I was very happy he came early. He screamed like he was mad when he was born and was lifting his head and shoulders up off me in protest to his experience. Strong little bugger. The first thing I noticed was his dimpled chin - my fathers dimpled chin. So we named him Levi Jeffrey Harris.

The boys were at our neighbors the Walthers and Ryan went and got them after the placenta was delivered. They ran through our yards home and it was so fun to see them with Levi for the first time. We have all been so excited for his arrival. None of us could really believe the day had finally arrived! I had the midwife show the boys the placenta and umbilical cord and sack sides. Soren was horrified and ran out after the first 60 seconds of the demo screaming "That is so nasty! I am out of here!" Xander on the other had thought it was great and stayed for the whole thing.

Our family for the first time as a family of 5

So Joyous!

Me and my boys!

Having the baby at home was really interesting because people would come visit and they could us the whole house, so it seemed like a open house. Family would come and visit in the family room and come to my room in much smaller more controlled groups. I had left a message on my Mom's machine that I was in labor and she called back right when I was getting ready to push. So she was there 20 minutes after the baby was born. Good thing too, because about 15 minutes after she arrived I got the worlds worst leg cramp in my left calf. It was awful! I hadn't gotten up yet and was still bloody holding this new baby and my calf starts to charlie horse and I could n't stand up due to my messy circumstance and my mom is sitting next to me and I start screaming, "pull my foot, pull my foot" She starts to pull back but my calf is just getting tighter and tighter. I am screaming louder now, "harder, harder!! Janea joins mom and it takes everything they got but thy finally stretched out my calf enough. I thought the worst was over when suddenly the opposite muscle starts to cramp, "No! Point my foot! Point my foot" I yell. They do as they are told and as my shin muscle relaxes my calf starts to cramp again. I scream and laugh at the same time as I bark commands, " Pull! No, Point! No Pull!" I was a cramping mess. My midwives are shuving homeopathic and vitamin pills in my mouth as my Mom and sister and pulling and pushing. Then my mom put a hot wet cloth on my leg and the leg muscls fully relax. After it was all over, one of the midwives said, "Wow, that was crazier then the actual delivery!" And it was.

It was been so fun (and exausting) having Levi in out family we are adoring and loving him.