A Beautiful Chunky Baby!

I had a very strange dream last night. I had gone to church ( we haven't been in nearly a  year) . I was sitting there in the pew when the baby made this huge motion, so much that it warped my belly. Then moments later, I gave birth to a baby boy. 

Then came the next stage, and I thought it was the placenta, but it was a very underdeveloped baby girl. She was maybe 20 weeks gestation, probably less and not alive. I recall feeling heartbroken, but at peace about it. It was about this time I woke up. Went to the bathroom and laid down, nodded back off... 

Over the next 30 minutes, I had 3 very strong contractions.. They woke me up each time. I had 3 more over the next 30 minutes. So 6 strong contractions in an hour.. Time to start tracking. Labor has begun. 

It was business as usual in the house. The children made breakfast tacos for breakfast, I labored. 

Hubby focused on me. By 8-9 the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart. Over the past week I have had mild random contractions but I still hadn't even lost the mucus plug. This is why I feel checking dilatation is a bad thing to do to expectant moms. It indicates nothing at all. Its such a wide variable. 

Quinten ran me a bath... I just wanted warm water available, I didn't know how or if I would even use it.. I just wanted it there.  

Of course , I did.... the warm water felt good but I had to move around

 Working through the contractions 
I cried through most of them... 
I told Joe a few times
"I don't like this part"
I don't.  I just want to get to the pushing part and the holding a sweet new baby part

 Going to Break here to warn you.. These are actual birth photos below.. I think they are awesome and I don't mind sharing.. If you don't want to see, click away from the page, or scroll past really fast! :o) 

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It was just past 10 when I told my husband to stop timing contractions.. There was no need for it. He likes to use the time for his own comforted mind, but there was not much of a break between them at this time. The urge to push was there

Lucas was attentive to me and I kept telling him the baby was about to come out

When the head was born,  I hear him say 

"Its a baby!" He was so excited 

Those familiar with birth, see what 's going on here?!

~*~

For those that have no idea what I am talking about... My water never broke, till the very end.

The baby was born in the caul . I think that is so awesome. 

We welcomed our 10th blessing at 10:35 CST

We were 42+4 EDD
My prayers we answered and we had a 4 1/2 hr labor!

 Here is where the water came in handy! 

Placenta came at 10:48 

Our first photo didn't come out so I took this at 3:30

 Oh in case you were wondering.....

Its a BOY!!

Abigail cut his cord.

Notice its white... Thats when you are suppose to cut the cord!

I love this photo of us.. His eyes were glued to Daddy 

Mommy and baby are cleaned up and resting... 

We had to have another sponge bath and get a diaper on.. I just put this sposie on him for now as he has pooped 3 times since birth (5+hours ago) ! He was just naked wrapped in cloth and he pooped on all of our cloth wraps! 

He looks like a sumo wrestler :o) 

Welcome to our family little one.. 

What a beautiful blessing you are!! 

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The Unattended Home Birth of Lucas Teomner

Based on my calculations my Estimated Due Date was June 4th. June 4th came and went, as did the 5th, 6th, 7th..... And the questions began rolling in.. None of which I had an answer to. I did not have any clue as to when the baby would make his/her debut. I wish I was psychic.

I am not one to rush labor, but I was getting a little nervous as Jacob was getting ready to leave for scout camp. This was harder for me than I thought. First I have never been away from my children except for the week we moved to Maine a few years ago and I stayed back to finish up, and this was different. He was away from us for a week. Second, I didn't want the new one to arrive while he was gone. It just didn't seem right.

But as we always learn, things happen for a reason. Even when we have no idea whats going on. I was having a really hard time "nesting" as there were things I needed to be done in the home, but were beyond my control. We got a call that week about a house for rent. The kind we had been looking for. We went and saw it on Wednesday and sealed the deal on Friday. Saturday we were to pick up Jacob. Things were beginning to pull together.

On the 19th we began cleaning and painting the new place and prepping it for move in. On the 22nd, coincidentally. our first moving day,  I began having prodromal labor. I woke up with contractions about 15 min apart. They continued on thru most of the day 15-30 min apart or longer. Not very strong. That night I was awakened a few times by strong ones, but nothing consistent.

The 23rd they were stronger but still nothing too intense. At times they were less than 10 min apart. We moved and cleaned out more of the old house.  That night the contractions were still spaced the same but very intense.. I took a shower for the back pain. Slept when I could.

In the morning of the 24th the contractions subsided. Spent most of the day attempting to unpack. I still had contractions all day, but nothing too strong, just very uncomfortable. By late afternoon  they were 15-30 min apart. That evening we went for a walk thru Lowes. By the time we got home I was exhausted and went to bed fairly early. I was awoken about every 30 min or so with very strong contractions. That lasted thru the night. This is about the point where those mixed emotions move in. I was so excited, but the memories of previous labors reminded me what was up ahead. 

Zachary's birth story

On October 28th I finished up my day at work and went home as usual. Later that evening I began feeling some pretty good contractions. I slept fairly well that night and woke up will still strong contractions. I called and cancelled my appts for the day. Saturday I had a fairly relaxing day at home. Contractions on and off. We hung out and made sure everything was ready.

         


Later that evening, 5 or so I guess, the contractions got real strong. (This is me when Joe said "smile" while I was having a contraction) I didn't write down times, and the post I made on his birth has been lost in cyberspace. As I do with all my births, I take advantage of the relief a warm shower provides. When labor got intense I went to my room. This was not only our first unassisted birth, but also the first birth one of my older children attended. Jacob was just under 7 years old. He helped by talking to me, bringing me ice water, cool cloths and even took a few photos. It was just past midnight when Zachary ( who didn't have a name yet) was born.

There was alot of commotion for this birth. It was our first unattended by a midwife. My mother was in attendance. As was my sister and her boyfriend (now husband). My mom was hands on which was helpful and not helpful at the same time. My sister was there for part of the birth, but had to go outside with her boyfriend, who probably shouldn't have been there. He was not prepared to be in the home of a birth. Fortunately these were only small distractions. I will say while this was a wonderful birth, it was the least pleasing for myself. After this birth I only allowed residents of my home at my births.

Zachary Michael Naugler ~ October 30th 2005

"My Birth Day"

me in the same christening gown

"I was 20 when Nicole Celeste was born in 1976. Being in the army, I

was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood Mo. Now, Missouri has some of the

worst winters I've ever seen. And 1976 was no exception! Nicole was

due to be born the middle of March, and my grandma, (Ma-ma) had come

to spend some time with me. I'm glad she was there. She gave me a few

tips on babies, like anise tea when the baby had a tummy ache. Anyway,

Nicole apparently did not want to come into this world. I guess she

was too comfy. (Or stubborn.)

Jacob's Birth Story ( 12 years later)

It was Dec 17th and I had finished grooming the 2 cats and a Collie I had scheduled that day.I was 5 days from my due date and tired. I had gone to get Joe from work and had to wait a little. I was getting really sore and thought maybe I over did it that day. I sat down and I finally got to the point where I told Joe I had to go home and rest.

Ezra Douglas Naugler

Ezra Douglas Naugler was born at home  into his fathers arms at 9:35 pm on April 4th 2010, Easter Sunday, under the watchful eye of all 7 of his siblings.

After being 3 days past my edd and having measly contractions for those 3 days I woke up Sunday morning a bit more sore than I had wanted to be. I made the kids Easter Breakfast

Alot can happen in 10 years....

1998-2008. That was a busy 10 years for me.. In that time I spent 157 hours in labor.. that's the equivalent of nearly 4~ 40 hour work weeks. I have spent 282 weeks pregnant. That's over 5 years. I could also add in the 3 years and 7 mos I spent breast feeding.. I wish that had been longer...

Outside of those 10 years I had 3 miscarriages.. all around 9 weeks.. While it is hard to suffer thru that, I am grateful for the 7 blessings I do have.

My kids are so awesome.. I am so blessed with the spirits the Lord has given me.. I guess you could say I am flattered that he would give them to me.. I am so thankful for a wonderful husband who has been there right along side me.. My life is awesome

Olivia Celeste

written Jan 2007

I woke up Jan 4th around 1:30 am with contractions about 10 min apart...at about 4 am... contractions were 5 min apart.. I got in the hot shower again and I felt so much better..I was so sore from days of warm ups..

It was about 5:30 when it really got intense.. I dont remember times but my water broke and everything stopped.. cold... I went a while ( what felt a while) with out a contraction... then they were real mild... I think I strained myself becasue of it...I was just ready to get her out...

All went well..Joe made sure she came out all right , I cleaned her airways and he tied and cut the umbillical cord.. We offered it for Quinten , but he tried and couldnt. Joe was so excited she was a girl he was just laughing like a schoolgirl and jumping around :)

Except for Zachary who was in the playpen all the kids were there... I was thrilled... I am pretty sure this is the last one so they all got too see a birth.. It was also Isaacs Birthday....he doesnt seem to mind his day being shared.. He watched the baby be born and is so excited about the baby girl...

We still dont have a name and we havent weighed her yet... maybe tomorrow.. I would guess about 8 1/2 #.. not as big as one would think :)

Urijah Patrick

I wrote this on February 17, 2008

On Feb 15th I woke up with contractions, mild about 15 min apart.. they continued like that all day until about 7 pm.. the contractions, still 15 min apart,got stronger..at about 11:30 I took a shower and got some rest.. they continued thru the night waking me up a bit..by morning they were a bit stronger, still 15 min apart..I was getting worn out.. sleeping when I could between them..at about 12:30 they got faster and I took a HOT shower..about 1pm they were 5 min apart.. they stayed that way for about an hour and then about 2 really picked up.. 20 or so min later, the part I was waiting for came.. the urge to push.. the cord was wrapped once around the neck, and when one shoulder was out and Joe pushed my skin out of the way and out he came..at 2:35 pm...I quickly cleaned airways and rubbed him.. he let out a good cry and then I wrapped him...I laid down..started to nurse, and close my eyes..

Abigail and Jacob were in the room.. Jacob got very concerned and kept looking at my face and then at the baby..he had the camera and once the baby was out he was snapping away..Abigail eyes were wide and amazed..she was just in awe I guess... Everyone else had been taking a nap. but woke up just as he was born and were in the door way. Isaac was ready to come running in, untill he heard boy....then he took off crying.. he really wanted a girl..He is ok now LOL.. He told me last night we have 5 tough boys and 2 princesses LOL.........Olivia hasnt really seen him.. I showed him to her last night and she was like .. um yeah, what do you want me to do with it.. she poked his face and that was about it.. later on I will sit down with just the two of them..

I feel fine.. typical soreness from the after contractions..Urijah is doing great.. He was 21 in long..his head was 14 1/2 I would guess his weight at about the same as the last two 9 - 9 1/2 #.. He only cried once.. when I had to change his poopy diaper..