Weston's Here!! - His Birth Story

William-Weston Blaine Gamble is here!! In fact, he is 9 days old. :) I've been covered up with the newborn phase that this post is just now getting written.

Weston was born on September 29th, 2010 at 1:46pm.
Weighing in at 8lbs 10oz and 21.5inches long.

Here is his birth story...

Ironically enough, my labor started as I was posting a blog about still being pregnant. It was around 9:30ish am. I had a couple of very mild contractions and thought "wouldn't that be funny". I text Nathan to tell him I had a couple of tiny ones and was getting in the shower and would keep him updated because that didn't really mean anything. In the shower I had a few morning and they were stronger. I told Nathan when I got out. He asked if he should come home and I said no because I had no idea if this was for real and didn't want him to leave work and drive home for nothing. That was about 10:30. I kept getting ready and having contractions and so I called my grandmother around 10:45 and asked if she would mind picking up Addison from school. I said I thought I might be in labor but don't know for sure yet but I didn't think I could finish getting in time and didn't want to be driving and have a contraction. The plan was for her to just bring Addison home unless I called her again. By 11 I decided that these contractions were pretty strong and I wanted Nathan. I called my midwife and she said I was in the beginning stages of labor and would go home and get her birthing stuff, come and check me, and then she would probably leave everything set up at my house and return when things were further along. After a couple of intense contractions, I called my grandmother back to ask her to take Addison to her house. I called Addison's teacher to tell her that my grandmother would be picking her up. I then called both my mother and mother in law. (Still telling them "I think I'm in labor for real")

Nathan arrived at around 11:30 and we started setting up. I think this whole process is what helped move me along so quickly because from the time labor started I was on my feet. I walk and pace when I'm on the phone and all the calls I made I was walking the whole time. Then we had to set up the house with towels, hose, pool, moving the furniture, etc. I also packed the rest of Addison's bad during this time. My midwife arrived at around 12 before Nathan had finished the pool. She checked me and said I was 7cm! I was so thrilled and a little shocked but by this time the contractions were pretty intense so I did think I was in labor. My first response was, "So you're going to stay, right?" she said, "Oh I'm not going anywhere!" I got into the tub around 12:30. These contractions were extremely painful from here on out. I honestly don't remember ever being in nearly as much pain with Addison. It was scaring me because I kept thinking I had hours more of this. With each contraction the pain was so intense that I was throwing up in my mouth. (Isn't birth beautiful?) I got out a little after 1pm to pee and asked her to check me again. I was 9cm. I couldn't believe how it was flying, but so relieved because I was ready to use the pain to accomplish getting him out. Got back in the pool, had a few more contractions and felt a pop. My water broke. And then all of the sudden it was time to push. After the first push Nathan asked if I wanted him inside to help hold me up. Then with the next push I felt him move down and I was thinking side that I couldn't possibly have to push for hours like last time because he felt huge and his head felt so low. My midwife said, his head is already down here you can feel it! I pushed a total of 11 minutes and he was out!

When he arrived I think I was overwhelmed and shocked more than anything. Just a couple hours before I wasn't sure if I was even in real labor and now he was here!!

Obviously in between contractions...waiting on the pool to finish filling up.

Nathan helping me through a contraction.

Meeting our son!

After giving birth, Weston and I took an herb bath in our bath tub. I also got to give him his first bath instead of someone else doing it.

Addison got to meet her brother for the first time that evening. She kissed him, asked to hold him, was surprised to find out that there wasn't a baby in mommy's tummy anymore, and then went on to playing.


**Weston was obviously born safely at home. It was our secret during pregnancy that we were planning to do this. We kept it a secret for many reasons. In a few weeks when I have more time, and SLEEP, I plan to write a blog to tell you why I chose home birth and my experience with it. But because it will be long, the next posts will probably just be pictures.**