Home birth
Where you birth your baby is a very personal decision. If you are blessed, you will be able to birth someplace you feel safe and comfortable. For me, this has been home birth. The comfort of my very own bed. Those very first cries. Just a few short minutes ago, the chaotic thoughts and emotions threatened to tear apart my whole world. The intensity was almost more than I could bear. Then, like a flood, everything changed. At first, I can only thank God for truly being my salvation. Then I watch, as if in a dream, as this new little bundle seems to have some complaints about what just happened. I laugh as I watch her squirm and scream. I know the crying is just God’s design to clear the amniotic fluid out of her lungs, but still, she seems so mad.
Meeting My Baby
My husband announces another beautiful girl as he hands her to me. I love pulling her in to my chest. She feels heavier than I expected. Her body is dark and pink and covered in vernix. The tiny bit of hair that she has, is wet and and plastered to her head. She starts rooting around. I chuckle as she tries to figure out how to grab on with her tiny mouth. Somehow, she manages to latch on and then, all of a sudden… there is this perfect peace. I study her while she experiences her first taste of colostrum. How can her fingernails be so tiny? Her toes are perfect! She has such beautiful skin and chunky thighs.
It’s so strange to me as I realize I’ve never seen her before. Somehow, I expected to recognize her after carrying her so closely for 9 months. None of the names that were on our list seem to fit her now. I have pain again as more contractions bring the placenta, but she still nurses. I pay little attention to what’s going on around me. It feels so good to rest with this perfect little one in my arms.
Meeting the Siblings
I’m not sure how much time passes when, “Mama?” my husband asks. “Are you ready for the kids to come and meet her?” Daddy takes her and wraps her in a towel and opens the door for her siblings to come in. The older children remember. They’ve already warned the younger ones to “be so quiet.” and “don’t touch Mommy.”
Their faces are so full of wonder as they peak at her tiny face and fingers. I love watching each of them and their different reactions as they study her. This is just one of my favorite perks of a home birth. Complete peace and freedom in those first moments of meeting.
The Newborn Exam in a Home birth
After everyone gets a chance to meet baby, my midwife takes her and sets her on the bed to start the newborn exam. She talks with my children as she measures and checks reflexes. She helps them dress her in her new little gown, hat and booties.
I lay there reminiscing over my past home birth experiences and rest and know the next few weeks will be filled with relaxing soaks in the bath, meals in bed, the sweetest newborn naps and the softest kisses. And so begins another journey with a new little blessing in our home.
My favorite newborn blankets here
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