It's a ...
boy. Earlier this week, my wife gave birth to our second child, Xavier Xanthus. He was 9.0 lbs and 21" long. Mom and baby are doing well.
I don't know where to begin when talking about Xavier's birth story. When we were looking over our birthing options for Oliver, my wife had talked to me about a home birth. I was not crazy about the idea for several reasons (possible complications, unfamiliar terrain, etc.). The idea was scrapped, at least until we conceived number two. The second time around I was much more receptive. We'd been there and done that. Her previous labor had taken 3.5 hours and second labors are generally somewhat quicker. We knew some people who had planned a home birth and everyone lived to tell of it. So the planning began.
My wife talked to a few people and got a recommendation on a midwife. With the midwife's help, we gathered all of the stuff that we would need to provide for the birth. Everything was laid out clearly for us. Really the biggest deal for us was selecting the right kiddee/birthing pool and a hose that would be capable of delivering clean, drinkable water to the pool. Finally with everything in readiness, we settled down to wait for the birth. And wait. Our due date came and went. And wait.. We had a false alarm. And wait... Lots of swimming and walking. And wait....
Then I got a call from my wife about 3:30.
"Ummm, when were you planning on coming home?"
"I was thinking of taking off around 5:00. Why?"
"I just got a strong contraction. I'd like you to come home."
I'll admit that I'm getting both fat and out of shape. But I fairly sprinted to the car and floored it home. Thankfully, I only live about a mile from work.
When I got home, I found my wife pacing. Her water had broken and the contractions were not distinct enough to time clearly. I called the midwife as I was running around changing clothes.
"I think this is it!"
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
At those words I experienced a mild panic. There was a non-trivial chance that I might have to deliver my baby. I tamped down the panic by assuring myself that there were two assistants easily within range. Panic subdued, I went downstairs to find that my wife wasn't talking during contractions and funny had left the building. I started filling the birthing pool and getting some last minute preparations in order. I called my mother-in-law as I was doing this to let her know that today might be the day. She told me to let her know as soon as we left for the hospital.
Quick aside - not too many people knew we were planning a home birth. Certainly our families were kept in the dark - better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Especially on my wife's side, we are probably the crunchiest parents. Home birthing was a topic that we would be happy to avoid discussing for the duration of the pregnancy.
The pool filled and my wife climbed in. For lack of anything better to do, I started massaging her back and offering my words of encouragement. At this point I started reviewing the 26-step plan for what to do if the midwife doesn't make it. For most couples, it isn't imperative to read the plan in its entirety before labor - just make sure that everything is available. But with my wife I was only really able to review until step 3 before she was far enough into labor that there was no time to review. Mercifully at that point, one of the assistants showed up.
Quick aside - people I've been happiest to see at moments in my life (the unauthoritative list)
1) My wife walking towards me at our wedding
2 & 3) My children at their births
4) My mother picking me up after my month abroad as an 11-year old
5) The assistant midwife showing up as my wife neared transition
6) The ER doctor who was going to reset my dislocated shoulder
Buoyed by the likelihood that I would not be giving birth to my child myself, I was more able to relax and focus on my wife. The midwife arrived a short while later, relaxing my further. And then the pushing started.
Another aside - Pushing is an interesting part of labor. Each time I've been torn between wanting to support my wife (head) and to see what's happening (tail). And not enough time to flip the coin.
After several minutes of pushing, the baby gushed out of my wife. The midwife directed the baby to come up into my wife's arms and Xavier gave his first cries in her arms.
I don't know where to begin when talking about Xavier's birth story. When we were looking over our birthing options for Oliver, my wife had talked to me about a home birth. I was not crazy about the idea for several reasons (possible complications, unfamiliar terrain, etc.). The idea was scrapped, at least until we conceived number two. The second time around I was much more receptive. We'd been there and done that. Her previous labor had taken 3.5 hours and second labors are generally somewhat quicker. We knew some people who had planned a home birth and everyone lived to tell of it. So the planning began.
My wife talked to a few people and got a recommendation on a midwife. With the midwife's help, we gathered all of the stuff that we would need to provide for the birth. Everything was laid out clearly for us. Really the biggest deal for us was selecting the right kiddee/birthing pool and a hose that would be capable of delivering clean, drinkable water to the pool. Finally with everything in readiness, we settled down to wait for the birth. And wait. Our due date came and went. And wait.. We had a false alarm. And wait... Lots of swimming and walking. And wait....
Then I got a call from my wife about 3:30.
"Ummm, when were you planning on coming home?"
"I was thinking of taking off around 5:00. Why?"
"I just got a strong contraction. I'd like you to come home."
I'll admit that I'm getting both fat and out of shape. But I fairly sprinted to the car and floored it home. Thankfully, I only live about a mile from work.
When I got home, I found my wife pacing. Her water had broken and the contractions were not distinct enough to time clearly. I called the midwife as I was running around changing clothes.
"I think this is it!"
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
At those words I experienced a mild panic. There was a non-trivial chance that I might have to deliver my baby. I tamped down the panic by assuring myself that there were two assistants easily within range. Panic subdued, I went downstairs to find that my wife wasn't talking during contractions and funny had left the building. I started filling the birthing pool and getting some last minute preparations in order. I called my mother-in-law as I was doing this to let her know that today might be the day. She told me to let her know as soon as we left for the hospital.
Quick aside - not too many people knew we were planning a home birth. Certainly our families were kept in the dark - better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Especially on my wife's side, we are probably the crunchiest parents. Home birthing was a topic that we would be happy to avoid discussing for the duration of the pregnancy.
The pool filled and my wife climbed in. For lack of anything better to do, I started massaging her back and offering my words of encouragement. At this point I started reviewing the 26-step plan for what to do if the midwife doesn't make it. For most couples, it isn't imperative to read the plan in its entirety before labor - just make sure that everything is available. But with my wife I was only really able to review until step 3 before she was far enough into labor that there was no time to review. Mercifully at that point, one of the assistants showed up.
Quick aside - people I've been happiest to see at moments in my life (the unauthoritative list)
1) My wife walking towards me at our wedding
2 & 3) My children at their births
4) My mother picking me up after my month abroad as an 11-year old
5) The assistant midwife showing up as my wife neared transition
6) The ER doctor who was going to reset my dislocated shoulder
Buoyed by the likelihood that I would not be giving birth to my child myself, I was more able to relax and focus on my wife. The midwife arrived a short while later, relaxing my further. And then the pushing started.
Another aside - Pushing is an interesting part of labor. Each time I've been torn between wanting to support my wife (head) and to see what's happening (tail). And not enough time to flip the coin.
After several minutes of pushing, the baby gushed out of my wife. The midwife directed the baby to come up into my wife's arms and Xavier gave his first cries in her arms.
posted by mypetrock at 4:46 PM
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