Boy or Girl?!

9 years as a doula, and this is the 2nd birth I've attended where the parents didn't know the gender of the baby, and it made the big reveal pretty exciting!  

Mom was 6 days past her due date when her water broke as she was walking out of her weekly check up!  (I had a feeling the summer storm might get things going for her!  And she wasn't the only one.  L & D was packed!)  Her membranes ruptured at 11:30, and I arrived at 2:30.  Mom was coping great with her contractions.  She was swaying and rubbing her belly.  Her contractions were already TWO MINUTES APART!  I thought I just might be home in time to make my family dinner.... but I wasn't.  :)

Even though she was cranking out a little more than twice the amount of contractions as a typical woman would in early-active labor, dilation came a little slower than we had expected.  At 5:00 she was 4 cm, and at 7:00 she was 6 cm.  She was making progress though, and that's what matters.  This was baby #3.  Baby #1 was born cesarean, baby #2 was a vaginal delivery that was very long and complicated, so we were planning on baby #3 being a little more agreeable.  :) 

At 7:30 pm mom decided she was "done" and asked for an epidural.  She and dad had worked sooo hard.  He was extremely supportive, loving, encouraging, and affectionate.  

Mom stayed at 6 cm for a couple more hours, and wasn't able to find full relief with the epidural.  Her blood pressure also dropped, causing her to feel dizzy.  She also dealt with nausea and vomiting.  Not exactly the break she was hoping for.  But at 11:10 pm she was dilated to 9 cm and complete at 12:15 am.

She pushed for 3 hours with baby #2, and was really hoping to not have to push that long again.  This time it only took 14 minutes!

Dad was able to announce

"It's a BOY!"

It was so exciting to find out in that moment!

Gotta love the finger hold...

Both parents were thrilled to have another successful vaginal birth with NO pitocin!  

Baby Boy #3

Born July 17th, 12:41 am

7 pounds 12 oz.

20.5 inches long

He was so cute with his eyes open.

He had the CUTEST little chin quiver when he cried, so I couldn't resist capturing a short video of it.