The Homebirth: Killian and Mommy

The homebirth could not have gone any better than it did. Leslie called me at work on Friday the 12th at around 3:30 and said I should probably be wrapping things up. By the time I got home it was 4:15 or so, and I begin getting the birth tub set up and hauling the bed downstairs to the den. Thankfully my mom was here, so she was able to watch the boys during the whole process.

Killian Bourne Gidcumb

Debi Church (our midwife) showed up while I was getting things set up. Once everything was in place, Debi checked Leslie and she was at about 4.5 cm, which at the time was a bit discouraging. I think it was somewhere between 5:45 and 6:00. At that point I was able to focus on Leslie. Debi called her assistant (Michelle) and had her show up at around 6:30 or so. Shortly before Michelle arrived, Leslie's water broke. We were both glad about it because with the other two births her water did not break until after she was pushing. At around 7:00, the water in the birth tub had cooled down enough and Leslie had progressed far enough in the labor that Debi felt comfortable with Leslie getting into the tub. (I guess the idea is that if you get in the tub too early it can slow down the labor.)

After ten minutes or more of being in the tub, Leslie started with some really deep groans. Debi checked her for the second time and told Leslie she could push whenever she wanted. We could hardly believe she had progressed so quickly. Leslie started thanking God in a way that only a woman in labor could. I am hesitant to mention it because it was so personal and heart felt, but it was so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes. It really reminded me of people in the Old Testament busting out in a song of praise. But this was no song. Debi began to echo Leslie's words, and I could tell they were both involved in a deep mystery that as a man I could never experience. There was something special that took place between those women and their God that was just for them. I don't want to overanalyze the event because in total it was short, but there is something very special and deep in the way God meets a woman in labor.

I have some thoughts I would like to dig into surrounding natural birth, but like in many breastfeeding conversations you can really step on peoples' toes.

Well, after Leslie's praise, another contraction came along, and she gave her first push. By the third push Killian's head popped out, and by the fifth push, and in a total of 2 minutes, he was all out, into the water. It all happened so quickly. We could hardly believe it. By 7:26 he was born.

I will try to get some more pictures up shortly.