Birth Story - Carri & Her Daughter's Birth

After a very long pregnancy (I think all pregnancies feel long, but number 4 felt extremely long!), my labor finally started. My water broke at 4 a.m. and regular contractions every 3-4 minutes apart started around 4:30. This labor was a bit more intense both because my water was broken and there was no cushion between the baby's head and my cervix, and because it was very fast. There is a lot a woman's body has to go through to have a baby - and to do so in less than three hours is intense! I think that I prefer fast over long! She was born at 6:55 a.m. at our home, in our bed and it could not have been more wonderful. The boys slept through all of it and came in right after she was born. I had planned on them being there, but I thought my moaning sounded like growling, and I was biting into my husband's shoulder, so I felt that letting them sleep would be better for everyone. The best things about home birth are that there is no rushing to get anywhere, everyone and everything was calm, no one asked me a million questions about my health, and the baby is examined and cared for with only peace and calm. I am so thankful that I chose to have this birth at home and was able to experience such a peaceful and beautiful birth.

And was it a boy or a girl you ask? We waited (and waited and waited!) and were SHOCKED to find that after 3 boys we had a GIRL! What a wonderful surprise and end to a perfect birth! I am overjoyed to have a daughter that I will be able to share my love of birth and the beauty of motherhood with.