Baby #2
8 lbs. 1 oz. 20 in.
September 21, 2009 7:39 pm
I doubt Amanda will be documenting her birthing experience anytime soon, so here are the birth details from dad’s perspective. I really debated posting baby pics because let's face it - all babies look the same. But Amanda would probably want at least some pictures, so I posted them below.
Although Amanda had a rough pregnancy which consisted of preterm labor symptoms, high blood pressure, periods of bed rest, and a less than optimally positioned baby, her delivery was perfect. No stitches, no stretch marks, no steroids.
She started feeling more intense contractions Monday afternoon, but nothing that kept her from making dinner. Just before we sat down to eat around 6:00pm, she started having to focus more and to breathe through the contractions, so we called our friends the Landons to come get Nathan. We had a slight setback when amidst us scurrying to pack final items between Amanda's intensifying contractions, Nathan fell and bashed his nose right on our bed frame. He was screaming and his nose was gushing blood everywhere, and we thought he'd broken it. So then Amanda gets on the phone with the on-call pediatrician, who has no idea she's in labor, and they're talking about Nathan's nose. Luckily it stopped bleeding and he stopped screaming and we were off.
We were on our way to the hospital by 6:30, arrived at triage at 7:00 (where we found out she was at a 10 already), went to the delivery room shortly after, she started pushing at 7:30, and the baby was out by 7:39. It was great because there was no down time at all. Pure excitement and efficiency. So far, everything has been 1000 times better than our first delivery and newborn experience.
Amanda did a great job of preparing for the birth. We went to a 6 week Hypnobabies class, and she did a ton of research and practice on her own as well. I learned quite a bit myself, even though Amanda is the one who applies most of the information. I pretty much just learn it with her for support. Now I have all this pregnancy and birthing information taking up space in my brain, and I have nowhere to apply it. Maybe I ought to bag the MBA next year and become a midwife (yes there are male midwives, I looked into it out of curiosity).
Amanda 3 days before delivery
What a champ
Dad and baby
Mom and baby
Baby
Mom after getting cleaned up
A new baby and a new pizza. I can't think of anything more amazing.
Tiny Vivian's first night home
Suddenly Nathan didn't look small at all
Nathan saw her for the first time when he woke up. He was fascinated.
