Brianna Joy has arrived!!
Well she's here...she came powerfully and quickly once she decided
to make her appearance! I woke about 7:30 with fairly strong
contractions but sent Sidney to work anyway as I'd been having
somewhat regular contractions off and on for a couple days.

By 9/9:30 I was calling him back "Come home NOW!" **laughing** They
were SO strong and powerful.

Called the midwives about that same time and she was excited. Said
she'd call the babysitter and get her kids taken care of and head
over. Fortunately she left all her equipment here from when they
came the other day. Turned out Brianna came much faster than any of
us anticipated. She was born at 12:15 yesterday afternoon after only
3 hours of strong active labor....and less than five hour labor
total. If we'd tried for a hospital birth I'm sure she would have
been born on the side of the road without any preparation or
equipment or anything. As it was, with the home birth, I was still
able to deliver in the birthing tub, midwife on the speaker phone
talking my mom, Sidney and I through the entire process while Paula
(12 year old sister) watched Evan and Heather (10 year old sister)
brought towels and blankets for us. My mom was the actual one who
caught the baby....so awesome.

Everyone is wonderfully perfect and I feel MUCH better with this one
than I did after Evan...and even then his birth was easy compared to
many I hear about.

She is 7lbs 5 ounces and 19 inches long. Not quite as long and
skinny as Evan was. Her head was only 13 inches compared to Evan's
14 1/2 inch around head. She was also nearly born in the sac.....my
water didn't break until she was crowning which was a blessing from
God considering how intense and powerful the contractions were...the
water gave both of us some cushion. We named her Brianna Joy and she
was born at 12:15. My hubby was the only one with the presence of
mind to check his watch. **laughing**

It was a very intense labor but even at the most intense point I
just kept thinking how powerful it all felt. Rather an awe inspiring
experience to realize how much power really is able to be created in
me. A definite confidence boost in many ways.....and it didn't feel
like _I_ was being powerful....just that I was allowing the power to
work in me. I wonder what daily life would be like if we allowed
God's power to work in us more often.

She hardly cried at all and seems to have a rather "take it all in
stride" personality...which she will need with the rambunctious and
LOVING big brother she has. She is already used to his big boy hugs.
*grin*

P.S. This was my midwive's first ever speaker phone birth.
*laughing* After stay basically all day Tuesday and Wednesday they
went home Wednesday evening. Which was part of my hesitation calling
right away Thursday morning. Probably SHOULD have called them at
7:30 when I first woke up but still....never expected a less than
five hour labor with my "flexed" uterus!

Notes about Hypnobabies: After two days of off and on labor with the
midwives staying most of the day Tuesday, staying the night and then
all day Wednesday when my labor stopped completely I used the
Hypnobabies affirmations A LOT just to keep my spirits up. I was
able to really accept whatever pace this baby decided to make her
appearance without becoming frustrated or upset.

 When the midwives left Wednesday night I did the Fear Release session for the first time (I'm the one who wasn't able to order the course until just
after my 36 week mark so that was one session I didn't get to and
didn't feel as necessary until I had this start and stop labor thing
for two days. I began to wonder if I DID have some emotional block.
I fell asleep during the session and slept very soundly so I don't
know).

I put the Deepening session on after waking to use the
restroom about 3:30 or so. I really believe I was able to sleep so
late into the morning despite stronger contractions because of the
Hypnobabies helping me stay relaxed.

I also remembered a recent post about the POWER of it all and focusing

on that feeling rather than a more negative feeling. The one time I really

felt out of control and said in the middle of a particularly intense pressure wave

"I don't think I can do this!" my husband reminded me of that post and
said "You ARE doing this darling and it's very strong and very
powerful but this baby is coming". It really helped me get back on
top of things. That was the only moment I felt out of control and
even then with my husband's help I got quickly back in focus.

Things happened SO quickly but I never felt panicky except when I
had the urge to push and wasn't sure I should. With my son I had
such a flexed uterus that I actually had the urge to push while only
at a 7 1/2 (he was at a 3+ station!!). By that time the midwife was
on speaker phone and walked me through a quick self-check and once I
realized it was OK to push I ROARED my baby out into the world. Talk
about a powerful feeling!!! It was totally awesome. It really
wasn't "breathing her out" or "moaning her out"....it was totally a
roar and in less than ten minutes (three pushes? two pushes?) she
was out. Amazing. So completely amazing.

Things I would change? Nothing...not a thing. I wish I'd had more
time to go through the program slowly and MUCH MORE TIME to practice
with my husband but I definitely benefited from the sessions and
helping stay unstressed during such a fast and intense labor.

Recovery is going very well and nursing is awesome. She was so alert
when she was born she latched on within minutes. Everything was
absolutely perfect and a God-sent blessing for our family.

Blessings to all,
Angela <><