My daughter Adelaide Rose was born on a brisk fall morning in November, a Tuesday. And, although much anticipated, it was completely unexpected and absolutely perfect. So much mystery had surrounded Adelaide for so long. What would her sex be? How much would she weigh? Were all her fingers and toes there? But, most importantly,…
Lyla’s Birth
Our first child, Adelaide, was born, with the help of CHOICE midwives, into water on November 16th, 2010. She was a planned pregnancy, and we had even gone through fertility medication to help conception. The birth was beautiful and gentle – everything I wanted the experience to be. And, truthfully, I’d call it a typical…
He Was Born Where???
He Was Born Where??? He finally came. Palmer Lewis Hamilton was born on May 5, healthy and beautiful, and, like his sister, he was born at home. I know what you’re thinking. For goodness sake, why didn’t they learn from the first one and get to the hospital sooner this time? But it wasn’t…
Our Home Birth Dream Came True
At 10:30 pm on January 13, Mike and I got into bed. It was a Sunday, the night before my mom’s birthday…and first Monday since leaving my job. I was feeling a little guilty about not going to work in the morning, since I hadn’t actually had the baby yet. Laying on my right side,…
Eryn’s Little Sister
August 18th began as a usual day in our house. Get up, make breakfast, feed the dogs, dress Eryn and myself. Eryn, then two and a half, busily played, half watching cartoons, when the phone rang. It was my OB’s office. I considered not answering it. Against, perhaps, my better judgment, I said hello. It…
Olen’s Empowering Birth
Despite the outside appearance of a perfectly wonderful home birth with my daughter, it was somehow very traumatic to both her and I when coupled with a difficult postpartum period due to colic and food allergies. We were all healthy when she was born, yes, but definitely not happy. I’ve comet o realize that no…
NOT A Walk in the Park
Jack has now been in this world for 18 months and I would like to go back to the day he entered this world and document his birth story. It is a bit lengthy as it was hard to cut out any detail. I wanted to document the entire story, unrated and not softening anything. …
Ty Simone’s Birth
Ty Simone’s Birth On Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., I felt what I qualified as a possible labor contraction. After sharing this could-be revelation with Gary, I decided to drive to my CHOICE appointment. I saw my midwife Kelley and told her of my potential labor. Upon examination she determined the baby was nestled very…
Tobey
I must admit that I was nervous about performing as well as the couples in the HypnoBirthing videos. Would I be the little engine that couldn’t? Incredibly, we could have also starred in our own segment. Thank you Marie Mongan and thank you Heidi Wilhelm, our adept instructor. On 8/9, my 31st birthday, I was…
A Truly Joyful Birth
Hannah, my first child, was born in a hospital, and although her birth was unmedicated, it was not a natural birth. I’d arrived at the hospital at 8 cm and very much in control, but I ended up in the helpless bug position, with my baby (as she, herself, describes it 5 years later) being…