A quick (in all senses) birth story
I thought it was about time that I get on here – {pretty, happy, real weddings} and {bits & pieces} aside – just to say hi and give you an updated glimpse of my little man. (As for the latest {b&p} – thank you for all that advice re: cloth diapering! I had a feeling you would come through for me. I have been studying all your suggestions!)
Thank you all so much for your well wishes and excitement upon his arrival! It certainly was an exciting arrival.
Little Eamon is two months old today. I got a bit mixed up about his age recently and told some friends that he was 8 weeks when he was actually just 7. I later felt a little relieved that time isn’t flying by at quite the ridiculously intense rate that I was thinking it was. Just a moderately ridiculously intense rate, it turns out.
As some of you mentioned you’d like to hear the birth story from my perspective, here’s a bit of a review of that morning as I recall it.
Basically, for whatever mysterious combination of reasons, all of my warm-up labor was just very subtle and happened mostly overnight. So subtle, in fact, that I became fully aware of it only in hindsight. It was aided by an herbal tincture, provided by my midwife, that turned out to have a very strong effect on me!
6am – I woke up knowing that my body was in action, knowing that this would be The Day. I decided to take a shower and get myself ready for what I assumed would be a long, tiring workout. I took another dose of the aforementioned tincture.
7am – After a long, relaxing shower, during which I frequently leaned against the wall to breathe through surges, I got myself dressed and headed down for breakfast.
7:30am – Having finished a small breakfast and checked my email and Facebook (just to get that out of the way as more preparation for my Big Day), I realized that I wasn’t feeling responsive while Habou was chatting with me. I decided I should go upstairs to be by myself and focus.
8am – The Artist and the others having arrived home from morning Mass, I decided to check in with him to let him know I’d like his company while I tried to relax through what I felt was early labor. He said he’d just have some quick breakfast and come upstairs to join me, which sounded good to me. I went back up and lay down on the bed.
8:15am – Called the midwife and told her I was in labor. Only fully acknowledged the fact once I said it aloud. She must have heard something in my voice because she knew instinctively to step on it, and was in her car a matter of moments later.
8:16am – Phoned downstairs to request a glass of water.
8:17am – My mom came up with a glass of water and I burst into tears, not understanding why (later, Suki said, “Oh, so you cried because you were in transition.” Apparently.).
8:18am – Released a bellow. Heard myself release said bellow and thought, “oh wow, I recognize that sound. That is the sound that I made when I was in full-on labor the last time.” I didn’t feel it; I heard it. That sense of being in a sound and realizing that the sound is coming from oneself.
The Artist appeared, having also heard this sound and recognized its meaning.
{here follows a period of confusion, of groaning and of roaring, during which I was completely alert and never in much pain, but certainly in a state of massive surprise and a few moments of panic. Should we draw a bath? Is this the real thing? Do I need to use the toilet? [no really – very confused on that front] Maybe a bath would help me relax? But mom I don’t think I can get in the bath? But Deirdre maybe it would help you relax? The Artist thinks we really should go to the bed and not be in the bathroom. But can I move right now I’m not sure? Oh my oh my oh my that is the head right there. GET CINDY ON THE PHONE MOM CALL CINDY CALL CINDY And that is my water breaking and that is his head. Whoa whoa whoa whoa just get over to the bed okay I can do this yes let’s go over to the bed that sounds good towel Cindy’s on speakerphone lie down breathe deep breaths okay I can do this this is happening Cindy is not going to make it in time okay okay John get warm washcloths okay Deirdre breathe deep breaths for your baby okay this is happening right now this is happening right now}
9:02am (or something like that. None of us is 100% sure of the exact time of birth) – My darling Eamon is born into his grandmother’s capable hands.
When the Artist ran downstairs to say “It’s a boy!” Habou had no idea what he was talking about.
Later I said I thought it was two pushes. The Artist corrected me and said it was more like seven.
In a way I think that it was more intense for my mom and The Artist, because they were there with me and had to figure out what to do and how to cope. They were quick on their feet while doing their best to comfort me and not panic. I, on the other hand, had a straightforward job to do… a job that was more going to do itself to me than that I was going to do. It was just happening.
It just happened.
And now we’re settled in back home, with a little boy getting bigger every day, very much in love.
He is spoiling me. He is the sweetest little boy I’ve ever known. You may recall that Molly was Rosie’s Angel Baby. Turns out that Eamon is mine.
Last week, The Artist and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary with two little muffins. So blessed.
Had to enjoy the quilt from Habipti with some matching chevron!
And now, dear readers, it’s my plan to switch over to referring to this little guy by his prenatal nickname “Peabodee.” And you’ll be seeing less of him (and his big sister) on here, in general.
Maybe sometime I’ll sit down and articulate all our reasons for being reticent with kiddo pictures and updates. In the meantime, I hope you know that it’s not for any lack of appreciation of the kindness and friendliness that you shower on us via your reading and commenting! There is a very big part of me that would like to share a daily update on these two munchkins, using their real names (I happen to think they’re quite bright and pretty cute and that they have great names), but for now I think it’s best for us if I keep them out of the LMLD “limelight.”
Lots of love from the Chesternest!
