Deliver.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
~ Psalm 139:14

 

 

 

It’s very hard to believe that little Leia could still b in the womb right now.

Hard to believe a week has gone by so fast.

Hard to believe that we have been so blessed with such a wonderful addition to our {ever-growing} family.

I wasn’t sure how to post or what to post about the birth of our new baby girl … it all feels so personal and yet such a miracle … such a joyous experience … so here it goes …

Let me just say, the birth of Leia was absolutely amazing – it was all I ever hoped for, really. I didn’t know what to expect with a home birth, but I knew (or rather, hoped) it would be a quick birth looking at the history of my other four deliveries. I’ve witnessed a few (so beautiful!) home births and was ‘sold’ on the intimacy, the calmness, the privacy of having a baby in the comfort of your own home.

And with the birth of Leia, it was exactly as I had hoped … my contractions started and stopped all night long on Monday night. I really didn’t know if it was real labour or just some really intense Braxton Hicks (at this point, I was still 2.5 weeks away from the due date) .. I was hoping for labour so by 3 a.m., I woke up Abby and suggested that we set up the birthing pool and mattress (No, nothing was set up yet!) and lay out whatever was needed – just in case. After that, we found it hard to go to sleep – my hubby paced the floor a gazillion times (he’s never done that – he usually stays asleep till I finally wake him up and say “TIME TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL!”) and then finally said, “Well, we’re up – I may as well make bread…!” And so he did. Two beautiful loaves of the freshest bread at 4 a.m. What a guy. I slept a little off and on and still nothing big contraction wise. I timed them but they would stop and start or I’d fall asleep and lose track.

Eventually, after a night of nothing too serious, the girls woke up for breakfast. They saw the birthing pool set up and started to look a bit puzzled. I told them maybe today might be baby day – they were excited but everything was still very calm…{so thankful for the calm!} It was so nice to see the girls, give them kisses and know their daily schedule was barely even interrupted (especially important for the little ones).

 

 

The contractions were still there in the morning around breakfast time, but not too bad…

 

But by this time, I figured I had better call the midwives and let them know I felt ‘different’. I called my BFF, Leanne, to come in and be here in case we needed help with the kids, etc. {So grateful for her help this morning!! She also took these lovely photos!}

My primary midwife, Heather, showed up at 8 a.m. and checked the progress and to my joyous delight, promptly announced, “You’re 8 cms and the baby is ready!”

 

 

 

I was AMAZED that it had progressed that far …! And I was excited and OVERJOYED this was the real deal! So my sweet BFF put on a movie for the girlies to watch in the living room and gave them a snack while the midwives broke my water. I stepped into the birth pool, felt normal and then  … holy smokes … LABOUR … woweeee … it just happened so fast … within minutes, the baby was there … the midwives said “You can push now!” and I could barely believe it! Already?!

No kidding – less than eight minutes …. and I went from normal to intense … to sweet, sweet baby …

 

 

 

 

 

 

and just like that, she was born – so healthy, so wonderful and so beautiful … she barely cried … it was so peaceful once Leia arrived as I held her to my chest and met this little one who wiggled and kicked and hiccuped inside of me for the past nine months …

 

{And can I admit that I was so happy she was a girl! I love having girls and it’s so awesome to have this sisterhood to raise and nurture – I was overjoyed to have another little angel to care for.}

 

… it wasn’t long after Leia was born …

 

 

that her sisters slowly began to come back into the room … they walked over to where I was with the new baby and were quiet and yet so excited to suddenly see “their baby was out” … I think it surprised some of them at how quickly this day had come … “The new baby is here?” Lucia kept asking … now a week later, she still walks around saying, “My new baby is out now!” Precious.

 

 

This was my favorite part of the day, naturally introducing the girls to their new baby sister, slowly, in their own timing, without rushing and without stress …

 

 

and of course, Lovelyn is just fine as a big sister … she’s still my baby … I just have two (or five!) now … 🙂

 

 

 

It was fantastic for the girls to watch the midwives do their routine checks on Leia, listen to her heartbeat, etc. What an amazing way for the girls to be so involved in such a special day …

 

 

 

 

I really hope this morning is etched into their mind as a beautiful memory as it is etched into mine …

 

 

 

I’m so thankful. SO thankful.  I am blessed beyond measure with a new life to care for … so thankful.

 

 

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow,
because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child,
she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
~ John 16:21