Baby Piper Pearl - November 26th
"Powerful force is the only phrase that is close to describe this sensation. I needed to roar, so I let my voice out. I roared and growled as she came to the opening of my body. She crowned and the ring of fire created a surge of adrenaline."
Piper Pearl
9lbs 6oz
Our Birth Story
What I know for sure is that the time for anything is now. Life is fleeting, moments fly by, I've just blinked and this has all gone by. Every breath I expel is a thanks to the universe for reminding me that time is only gracious when you honor it.
I woke up Thanksgiving night last year to use the restroom, and found a little fluid to have leaked out. I truly thought not much about it, I knew my baby was coming soon, but I was in a really cosmic place already. I had been spending a lot of time in the ocean and a lot of time talking to my baby letting him or her know that I was ready. I went back to sleep and in the morning I felt so good. I felt like I was in a bubble of warmth, anticipation was mounting deep inside me. I asked Mike if we should take the kids to breakfast since it may be our last time as a family of four. He agreed.
We walked to Esau's, our favourite joint, a few blocks from home. Cozy and bustling, the day after a holiday, the restaurant was packed! Sitting down and staring at the menu, I wanted something delicious. I could feel my rushes starting, and I began to close my eyes to really feel them and asked my body to prepare and open for my baby. By the time we were ready to order my rushes were at the point I needed to focus (only 10 minutes had gone by). I chose a light meal of toast and eggs for energy. I also started feeling really emotional and told Mike that we should call the midwife and finish up. I went to use the restroom and had a huge beautiful rush and had to lean against the wall. A few tables turned around and asked if I was in labor and should they call someone? I told them I was! And that we were headed home soon.
We paid the bill and the waiter and owner wished us luck. We began to walk home. It was 11:15. The kids and I were walking slowly when all of a sudden a pop! My water had broken! Gushing amniotic fluid was everywhere. The kids were so excited. I couldn't walk anymore at this point. My rushes were coming every few minutes so Mike went to get the car. I was in such a euphoric zone already.
When we arrived home I planned for my son to go surf, laboring through a phone call to his friends mom. After that was done, I moved to the toilet. Why are toilets contraction magnets?! Wow. That lasted a few minutes until I moved to the stairs to be on all fours and watch the trees outside the window. My playlist was playing in the background while my doula, who happens to be my 13 year old daughter rubbed my lower back. Mike had phoned my midwives and was filling the pool and putting up curtains to darken the room. I had felt the need for a dimly lit space. My body was just buzzing. I was groaning through each rush, feeling in deep inside, my mind was focused, I felt so good, I felt so controlled, even though it was all happening so fast. I couldn't talk at this point, but was able to tell Mike that my mom and midwife needed to arrive. It was about 12:15. I moved to the couch to rest on all fours and rush after rush began to arrive through my whole body.
My mom walked in, unknowing that I was in active labor, and more specifically, transition! I told her they wouldn't stop and she cried happy tears and reassured me. Ronda my midwife arrived and made her way over to check me. A little lip was all that was left! I was helped into the warm pool. Oh sweet Jesus, it felt so good. On all fours, I gripped the sides and my mom, daughter ans husband laid their hands on top of mine as I could feel the baby moving down. Powerful force is the only phrase that is close to describe this sensation. I needed to roar, so I let my voice out. I roared and growled as she came to the opening of my body. She crowned and the ring of fire created a surge of adrenaline. My midwife told me to touch my baby's head so I reached down and felt a soft little head, I also yelled "she's stuck!" She wasn't of course, just making her way out gently. My midwife said calmly "Kim, I'm going to push her through your legs and you sit back." I felt her head ease out and then her shoulders. I sat back and grabbed down as Ronda helped ease her up, simultaneously pulling my baby from my womb with me.
She landed on my chest, a coat of vernix, a cry, letting everyone know she was here. Cries and joyous talking erupted as we all wanted to know whether it was a girl or a boy! A girl it was. A plumb, peach of a girl. I helped her latch in an effort to help ease my placenta out. We stayed in the pool for a bit in earth shattering bliss.
When we were ready, we got out and got into bed. My own bed. Our family bed. The oxytocin was humming all around. I was stitched up in my bed, fed warm leftover Thanksgiving dinner by one of my midwives and snuggled deep into nurture.
Piper Pearl was 9lbs 6oz, and has been the light of all our lives this past year. Happy birthday baby girl.
9lbs 6oz
Our Birth Story
What I know for sure is that the time for anything is now. Life is fleeting, moments fly by, I've just blinked and this has all gone by. Every breath I expel is a thanks to the universe for reminding me that time is only gracious when you honor it.
I woke up Thanksgiving night last year to use the restroom, and found a little fluid to have leaked out. I truly thought not much about it, I knew my baby was coming soon, but I was in a really cosmic place already. I had been spending a lot of time in the ocean and a lot of time talking to my baby letting him or her know that I was ready. I went back to sleep and in the morning I felt so good. I felt like I was in a bubble of warmth, anticipation was mounting deep inside me. I asked Mike if we should take the kids to breakfast since it may be our last time as a family of four. He agreed.
We walked to Esau's, our favourite joint, a few blocks from home. Cozy and bustling, the day after a holiday, the restaurant was packed! Sitting down and staring at the menu, I wanted something delicious. I could feel my rushes starting, and I began to close my eyes to really feel them and asked my body to prepare and open for my baby. By the time we were ready to order my rushes were at the point I needed to focus (only 10 minutes had gone by). I chose a light meal of toast and eggs for energy. I also started feeling really emotional and told Mike that we should call the midwife and finish up. I went to use the restroom and had a huge beautiful rush and had to lean against the wall. A few tables turned around and asked if I was in labor and should they call someone? I told them I was! And that we were headed home soon.
We paid the bill and the waiter and owner wished us luck. We began to walk home. It was 11:15. The kids and I were walking slowly when all of a sudden a pop! My water had broken! Gushing amniotic fluid was everywhere. The kids were so excited. I couldn't walk anymore at this point. My rushes were coming every few minutes so Mike went to get the car. I was in such a euphoric zone already.
When we arrived home I planned for my son to go surf, laboring through a phone call to his friends mom. After that was done, I moved to the toilet. Why are toilets contraction magnets?! Wow. That lasted a few minutes until I moved to the stairs to be on all fours and watch the trees outside the window. My playlist was playing in the background while my doula, who happens to be my 13 year old daughter rubbed my lower back. Mike had phoned my midwives and was filling the pool and putting up curtains to darken the room. I had felt the need for a dimly lit space. My body was just buzzing. I was groaning through each rush, feeling in deep inside, my mind was focused, I felt so good, I felt so controlled, even though it was all happening so fast. I couldn't talk at this point, but was able to tell Mike that my mom and midwife needed to arrive. It was about 12:15. I moved to the couch to rest on all fours and rush after rush began to arrive through my whole body.
My mom walked in, unknowing that I was in active labor, and more specifically, transition! I told her they wouldn't stop and she cried happy tears and reassured me. Ronda my midwife arrived and made her way over to check me. A little lip was all that was left! I was helped into the warm pool. Oh sweet Jesus, it felt so good. On all fours, I gripped the sides and my mom, daughter ans husband laid their hands on top of mine as I could feel the baby moving down. Powerful force is the only phrase that is close to describe this sensation. I needed to roar, so I let my voice out. I roared and growled as she came to the opening of my body. She crowned and the ring of fire created a surge of adrenaline. My midwife told me to touch my baby's head so I reached down and felt a soft little head, I also yelled "she's stuck!" She wasn't of course, just making her way out gently. My midwife said calmly "Kim, I'm going to push her through your legs and you sit back." I felt her head ease out and then her shoulders. I sat back and grabbed down as Ronda helped ease her up, simultaneously pulling my baby from my womb with me.
She landed on my chest, a coat of vernix, a cry, letting everyone know she was here. Cries and joyous talking erupted as we all wanted to know whether it was a girl or a boy! A girl it was. A plumb, peach of a girl. I helped her latch in an effort to help ease my placenta out. We stayed in the pool for a bit in earth shattering bliss.
When we were ready, we got out and got into bed. My own bed. Our family bed. The oxytocin was humming all around. I was stitched up in my bed, fed warm leftover Thanksgiving dinner by one of my midwives and snuggled deep into nurture.
Piper Pearl was 9lbs 6oz, and has been the light of all our lives this past year. Happy birthday baby girl.