Lisa's Story- 8 lbs., 14 oz.- Home

8 lbs., 14oz.

21 inches

14 inch head

Home

Mother's height: 5’4”

How was your pregnancy? Normal

How did you feel about your upcoming birth? Excited

Description of your birth experience:

So great!  My widwife, Karen, and her assistants, Olivia and Ali, were wonderful.  They are so gentle and very competent.  I experienced very little pain during labor.  I think that was partly because I used hypnosis during labor and was in the birth tub almost the entire time, but mostly it was very easy to relax because I was in my own home.  My husband was with me the entire time and he is always a source of strength for me.

How did you feel after the birth (first month)?

I had a pretty bad tear, so I had to stay lying down for about a week.  After the tear healed everything went fairly easily.  We have lots of support from our families which makes such a huge difference.  And the baby slept through the night from the night he was born.  We were able to co-sleep and that made breastfeeding really easy.

How did you feel six months after the birth? 

This was my second child, so it was a challenge keeping my 2 ½ year old entertained while caring for a newborn.  Once we got into a new routine my feelings of guilt about not doing enough “stuff” with my older child started to fade.  Plus I got really good with wearing the baby in the sling, which left my hands free.

One year? 

It goes by so fast with the second.  I have two boys and I have really enjoyed watching them interact and become friends.  The only thing that really bothered me at the one year mark was that I still hadn’t got back to my pre-baby weight (how vain, I know!)

Now? 

I am so lucky to be able to be able to stay home full time with my kids.  The hardest thing for me is to not bend to the pressures I sometimes feel to “get back to work”.  I’m really trying to enjoy the time I have with my boys while they are little; it goes by so fast.  I just continually remind myself that I will have many years to work, but only this one time to watch my babies grow.

What did you learn from this birth? 

That birth works, and that it really does make a difference where you birth.  Being at home this time was 180° from my first birth at the hospital.  I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Any words of wisdom to impart? 

Educate yourself and then be true to yourself.  Make informed decisions based upon what you want and what feels most comfortable to you. Listen to yourself, your heart and your body.  And birth tubs are the best pain reliever.  Try to use one whether you birth at home, at a birth center or in a hospital.  You’ll never want to birth on dry land again!