My wife started contractions yesterday morning at 6:30 and my son popped out 6.5 hours later at 1 which was awesome. Only at the hospital an hour and a half beforehand and she went all natural... Mrs. L's a pro, IMO. Everyone's healthy and doing well.

Aww so sweet. Name?

Congrats! I am due in jan. and planning on going natural...did you two take any classes or study a certain method or was that just unplanned awesomeness?

Baby boy number 2 due at the end of January.

1st one due 19 november

*sigh*

17 months already! Where does the time go? No #2 on the way yet, but we'll see here in the next few months maybe...

Wife's due 12/15/09 with our first. It's a boy...

Wife's due 3/10/09 with our third. Its a girl. We have a boy and a girl already.

Never saw this thread before. I've always wondered if anyone has more kids since joining 2+2 than I have, (three, joined 2+2 back in 2000, before the forum switched, then again on I think day 2 of "new" forum.

Danyon Carter, born 1/11/04



Renna Kay, born 11/19/05



and finally, (made sure of this), Shae Emerson, born 11/10/07



Anyone got me beat? Only counts if they were born since you joined 2+2!

Hey Daliman,

Your kids are really cute and I can see the resemblance. None for me yet, but if/when I do have them it will have to be post 2 + 2. Don't think I'll try for more than three though.

Poor kids.

just wanted to update that we found out its a girl, due in about a month or so. getting really excited

Nolan Connor

We took a general childbirth class at the hospital. My wife read a bunch of different books as well and we watched a video that Rikki Lake did on going natural... I'll see if she can post a list of the books here when she gets a chance.

We also had a Doula (not that we much needed one, given how things turned out), but I think it's pretty much a requirement for anyone that wants to go natural. Even in the ~hour that the Doula was there prior to him actually being born, she was a big help in managing her pain and getting her to focus on the pushing and how to push, when to breathe, etc.

Hi pokerwifey, the books I read were Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. Like Leroy said, we also watched Ricki Lake's documentary, The Business of Being Born. Your Best Birth and The Business of Being Born weren't really helpful with techniques for a natural birth, but more so provided the reasons why one would want to have one. Since you're already in that mindset, I'd focus on Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. The author is a little wacky, but the techniques described in the book are really helpful. It would also be good for your partner/coach to read as it talks about what he should be doing at the different stages of labor. Although, I'll admit, Leroy didn't read any of it and he still did awesome. Other books we looked at were The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin and Gentle Birth Choices.

I can't stress enough how important it is to be relaxed and focus on breathing. To that end, I found prenatal yoga to be very helpful. The doula was helpful too. Given that she wasn't there for much of the labor, I still think it was worth hiring her because it gave me piece of mind knowing she would be able me (us) relax. And what she did do in that hour was very helpful.

Other than that, I have no idea how I got so lucky. I couldn't have asked for a better birth experience. I wish you the best. Good luck!

Hi pokerwifey,

If I may throw in my two cents. (you probably do not know that I have been a labor and delivery nurse for 6 years)

Mrs Leroy gave some very good advice and I think its fantastic when women can do au naturale. Its not easy and I admire the women that can do it. Not many do. However, its not to say there is anything wrong with using meds/epidural. End result is the same, a baby.
I encourage my patients to have an open mind to all options. Know what meds are available and the side effects. Same with epidural, how they work etc. It does not mean that you will use them but what ever way you go go have the information. You can make the decision that is best for you.

My unsolicited advice would be if you have a birth plan be open minded and prepared. Doulas can be very helpful. Its your experience


Good luck and congrats!!

Usually around if you have any questions about what really happens.

I love this thread.
Such beautiful babies!!


Congrats!!


(on a side note its been a crazy around here in the baby business. ~300 babies a month for the last couple of months. although October is historically a busy month )

Yes, I completely agree. I went into wanting to do natural, but open to an epidural or other meds. I figured I had never done it before so how could I know what to expect... therefore, I wasn't ruling anything out. As it turned out (luckily!), it was "easier" than I had anticipated.

Thanks Mrs. Leroy and Mrs. Utah!

My hubs and I have been taking the Bradley Method courses, which is why I was curious what you had done to prep. I was very hesitant at first, given all the hard core stories I heard from both medicated and natural camps and I completely agree about being educated on ALL possibilites. Luckily we found a teacher who is very reasonable and open-minded to medication, but still really believes the more natural the better.

In one of our recent classes, we met a doula, and are now thinking of hiring one. I am very confident in my husband, but I think he may be more comfortable with one. We will see! Around two months to figure it out I guess!

Since I do not have my own baby pics to post and no babies on the way for me I thought I would post a picture of my big fuzzy baby meeting my friend's baby.

[IMG]
[/IMG]


[IMG][/IMG]

Harry loves babies!

One must get their exercise in those cold winter months!

<- Mother of Sept. and Nov. babies.

Aka...holiday cheer!

Here is Callie from Halloween:



I don't think there will be a 2nd one for me.

Has anyone here tried a home birth, or know of anybody who tried one? I find the possibility intriguing.

James

This is probably the wrong place for controversy, but please read This article if you're thinking about homebirth.

Definitely worth posting. Certainly not worth the risk, imo. There are a lot of birthing centers that try to have a homier feeling than a hospital but the technology and trained staff are there as well.

If you want to go with a midwife look for a certified nurse midwife vs the lay midwife.