Saturday, December 15, 2007

Birth stories

I LOVE reading birth stories! Would anyone like to share theirs for me to post? Email it to me, include a picture if you want, or send a link if it's already online. I love ALL types of birth stories! They are all miracles!:)
myfatherslily@gmail.com

If you have favorite birth stories that you've read online (or videos you've seen), email those links too!

Garrett's journal

When Garrett was born (two years ago next month!), I wrote in a journal for him during the last hour of labor. I thought that would be fun to post:) The times in [bold brackets] are when I had contractions.

January 24, 2006 - 39 weeks pregnant

Could today be your birthday? I'm pretty sure I'm in very early labor right now. The contractions are very labor-like, i.e. somewhat painful, spreading to my hips, different than any braxton hicks I've been having. But they are quite short. Could be a long day ahead:) But I'll do anything have to so I can meet you! [5:12 am] What is one day of labor compared with the joy you'll bring us? I remember after ELiana was born I was thinking I do NOT want to do that again! At least not any time soon!! But as I held her and loved her over the next few days I thought that yes, if I had to do it again for HER, this child here in my arms, then I would do it a hundred times. She was worth it. And Garrett, I know you will be too!

I wrote in Eliana's journal in early labor so I thought I'd do the same with you. I haven't been timing contractions so just for fun I'm jotting times down in the margin here to see how far they are right now. [5:17 am] So those two were 5 min. apart. As I said though, they are quite short. More braxton-hicks length (20-30 sec) than real contraction length (50-60 sec).

I should be sleeping. I tried. I don't like contractions laying down. And I find it hard to fall asleep in between. I went to bed at 11 pm with strong braxton-hicks. Awhile later, maybe 12:00 or 12:30 Eliana woke up. I decided to just bring her to bed with me for awhile. [5:22 am] She laid pretty quietly but didn't sleep. Though I rested and half-slept, having an awake little girl next to me didn't allow for real sleep:) Around 1 am I took her back to her bed and she fell asleep right away. I guess I slept restlessly till 2:30 or 3:00. At 3 I woke your dad to tell him something was up, whether false or early labor. We talked a few minutes but I did tell him to go back to sleep. I tried to rest but as I said it wasn't comfortable. I took a long bath [5:30 am] instead which was quite restful. Lit a candle... it was nice:) I'm writing by candlelight right now.

When does the sun come up? I guess maybe it start around 6:00? [5:33 am] Sometimes Eliana wakes up at 6:15 and thought it's not completely light then, it's not dark either.

[5:35 am (very small one)]

End of journaling. Garrett was born at 5:50 am.