By The Skin of Our Teeth

I'm finally getting around to posting about Micah's birth!

I was determined to get our baby boy here during my sister Kassie's visit. She arrived on Sunday and we got to work the very next day.

M: played at the beach, stairs
Tu: breast pump, stairs, homeopathy
W: midwife stripped membranes, hills, homeopathy
Th: hills
Fr: hills, herbs, homeopathy
Sa: stairs, hills, herbs, homeopathy
Su: hills, enema (yuck!), herbs, homeopathy, admit defeat

We decided to make a last ditch effort. I set my alarm for Monday (August 3rd) at 3 AM, woke up, chugged a 1/4 cup of castor oil, went to bed and, after too many bathroom trips to count, my contractions began around 5 AM.

7 AM- call my midwife (Sue) and tell her that I think it's time
7:20 Am- Shane takes Sage to Emily's
7:30- I call Shane (who has just arrived at Em's) and get upset that he's not here... Uh oh that's how I know it's baby time
7:35-Kassie starts filling up tub
7:40-Get in tub
8:15- Sue arrives
8:40-Micah is born

Kass told me that 2nd births are like a train...they come fast and furious. I definitely felt that way with Micah; I got in the tub and dove straight into transition. That kiddo came barreling out of me. I felt his head drop, my water broke and then BAM that big ol' head was out. In fact, he came so fast that his head never even molded...he came out with a lovely round noggin.

I slowly eased out his shoulders (with Kass coaching me all the way) and then reached down into the water and brought him up to my chest and held him close.

It's a blissful moment cuddling your baby in your arms after long months of waiting.

Sue was perfect. She sat back quietly and let Kassie and I work together. She came over at the end when Micah's head came out, had me change position and supported my perineum as his shoulders oozed out (she says she prides herself on perfect perineums). She just calmly waited and watched for when she was needed.

Kassie was amazing. She was with me every step, encouraging me, keeping me grounded, giving me sips of water and making birth noises with me (you know...the ones that make you sound like a bellowing cow).

Shane was snapping pictures and taking video. I like my husband silent and hands off but nearby during birth. And I love that he is just fine and dandy with that.

Sage joined us just a few minutes after the birth and attempted to cut the cord (she needed a little help from Shane). She was a little shell shocked by Micah's sudden appearance but happy.

Home birth and hospital birth are so very different. Here at home there was no rushing, no one ordering me to push, no strangers, no annoying monitors to keep me from finding a comfortable position, no waiting for a doctor to get there, no one whisking the baby away afterward for a bath; I called the shots because after all it was my birth.

After the birth I sat in the water for a minute with Micah in my arms as Sue listened to his heart, then moved over to Sage's bed (the birthing tub was in her room) where I held him close, nursed and waited for the cord to stop pulsating. In the meantime Sue gave me "Placenta Out", a vile herbal concoction that (what else?) helps your placenta to come out. Twenty minutes (or so) later, with a little pushing on my part, that placenta came out. Phew! It almost felt like I was pushing another baby out.

I hurried into my own bed with my little baby, nursed, got comfy and reveled in the moment with Shane, who fed me snacks. Meanwhile the midwives cleaned up and Kass prepared delicious food. About an hour after his birth, Micah's newborn exam took place on my bed with Shane and I next to him.

Afterward I ate Kassie's fabulous meal: filet mignon with carmelized onions, a baked potato topped with lots of butter, cheese and creme fraiche and chocolate chip pie. Mmmmm...my idea of heavenly food.

A few short hours later (2 PM) Kassie was on a plane headed home and we were alone...our little family of four.

P.S. Kass, you are hereby invited to all of my births (that's not a request!). I couldn't have done it without you!