SARA DOROTHY JOHNSON DANIELS
WELCOME TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!
(This is the story of my birth. It will be updated by my father from time to time today.)
ffWELCOME TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!
(This is the story of my birth. It will be updated by my father from time to time today.)
ffMOM WITH DOULA LIZ.
Where to begin... I guess a recap is needed. We started out at home Friday Night and labored for some time. We finally went to the birthing center and were sent back home. That night we were up all night with contractions. The next morning -- Saturday -- we continued to labor at home. I had decided that Kris needed a distraction from the contractions. We baked a birthday cake for Sara. Since it was going to be Sara's birthday, I thought we needed a cake and a party for after she was born. Kris is icing the cake while having contractions. She is on her 8th hour of solid hard contractions lasting for 5 minutes each.
LIZ, OUR DOULA, WATCHING KRIS ICING THE CAKE.
KRIS AND I ARE ICING SARA'S BIRTHDAY CAKE!
THE FINISHED PRODUCT
After the birth, we sang happy birthday and cut the cake.
RETURN TO THE BIRTHING CENTER
At 2pm we headed back to the birthing center for the second time. The contractions were closer together and they were stronger than ever. Kris had now labored for over 12 hours and was getting some back pain. The picture above is of Kris and Liz, the doula, on the patio of our room. This time were were admitted and were told to expect a long labor but that the baby would be born this very day. WRONG!
LABOR CONTINUES AND INTENSIFIES
The labor now began to intensify. We thought that it was already long and strong but it got much worse. REMEMBER Natural Childbirth at play here... No drugs and not interventions.
CONCENTRATION DEEP INTO THE NIGHT.
It is now 10pm... We have learned that the baby is facing the wrong way. It is head down but the baby's spine is pressing against Kris' spine. That now explains the back pain which has been getting worse and worse. It is possible to deliver the baby naturally this way but back labor is considered to be the most painful. Kris is finding the contractions hard but not unmanageable. She decides that she will continue to try to deliver as long as possible in a natural way. The midwives say that we can continues as long as we like but that the pain and the possible complications to the baby will intensify after midnight. Midnight will be the end of the second day of labor and the beginning of the third.