I finally put together Cora’s birth story, and if you read it, you’ll understand why there are no pictures of the actual birth (she came fast!). But I’ve had a lot of people ask me what the biggest difference between hospital birth and home birth is, and while the birth it’s self is more relaxing and comfortable in your own home, I think the biggest difference is the postpartum. I was so happy to have my midwives, Julie Hughes, Jen Anderson-Tarver and Angela Seeling here to help us welcome Cora.
Here are some pictures that Amy Swagman captured of Cora’s immediate postpartum in our bedroom. Click the pictures for a larger view. Enjoy!
So beautiful! Congratulations on your little blessing. I love the pic of big brother helping with the weighing. Precious
Thank you!
Congratulations! I’m so happy your birth experience was exactly what you wanted. How wonderful, and what a bean of a little girl. Why don’t hospitals use the sling-scale, anyway? So much more comfy looking than the hard plastic pan.
Ha – I agree with the sling scale comment! And I think that the exam happening practically in mama & daddy’s laps is far better too. I hate when I’m at hospital births and they take baby away right away. There is poor mom, straining from her bed to see her prize after all that work, and the nurses thoroughly enjoying the newborn cuteness that doesn’t belong to them, when they could just as easily be doing it with mom and dad right there. Makes me sad to see a baby sucking on a nurses gloved finger when they could have Daddy’s finger instead. That is what happened at Henry’s birth. I told my midwives that they’d have to pry my baby from my cold dead fingers before I’d let someone take my baby away from me again!
I am very blessed that I got to have two home births! They WERE everything I wanted. I highly recommend it!
I love the level of family involvement…it really makes for a special time.
It was totally special. Thanks, Citysister! <3
So glad you got some beautiful photos of the event! You’ll be so glad to have them in the future!
Thanks Genny!
I have never seen any pictures like that and those were absolutely beautiful! You were able to smile and be encouraging to your son right off the bat…so impressive!! He seemed really interested. What a great memory for him! God bless your family!
Yes – thank, Jenny. It was so great. There is a picture (my mom took it) of seven on us on or around our bed while the newborn exam was happening. Everyone is smiling and blissed-out. Amy fed me eggs and toast with grapes in bed, and Henry bounced around checking everything out – totally in love with his baby sister. He’s a lucky boy – he got to do the same (to a lesser degree) when his brother was born too. He was 2.5 then, so he was more amazed than hands on, but still there for everything.
Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! (all of you!)