2011 - Talk Birth

[2]
I spent a lot of time on the birth ball and Mark would stroke my back in just the right way
After criticizing myself at length for being ”too analytical,” ”thinking too much,” and not letting ”my monkey
do it,” I experienced a spontaneous birth reflex and pushed her out in a kneeling position and it only took
one contraction—her whole head and body came out all at once, no moment of crowning or head birthed
and then body following, just a bloosh of entire baby. I caught her myself. Mom and Mark both missed
seeing her come out, because the phone rang at the same time. My mom went to stop it and Mark was
moving around to the front of me, and when they looked again, I was holding her (Mark says it was about
12 seconds). So, no birth pix :(
I did tear again, exact same extra-delicate and non-”traditional” place from what I can tell. Feels better
than previous births already though–I know how to heal from this (even though I wish I didn’t have to).
My plan for immediate postpartum worked out perfectly and just like we planned. The midwife came
about 40 minutes after the birth and checked blood loss. My doula was here about 20 minutes after and fed
me a bite of placenta—and, I ate it! No gagging or anything!
I have very different post-birth feelings this time around—though I still had the ”I did it!” moment, I
felt less euphoric and triumphant and more relief and the feeling that, “we survived!” Blog posts about this
will eventually follow...
And, did I mention that I caught her myself?! :)
[3]
Shortly post-birth
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