A week in the life as an apprentice....

Well, with a rather slowish, nonetheless, eventful start to the year, this last week as surely turned a corner! On leap day, we were called to a first time homebirthers house, was her 2nd baby. She had an awful experience in the hospital the first time around and had so much fear at the thought of even getting pregnant with #2. She labored beautifully and welcomed her son into her arms that evening. I am so proud of her and just when she thought she couldn't do it, she did it! It was awesome! (It was a boy!)

On Monday the 3rd, it was my birthday! I thought for sure SOMEBODY was going to share my birthday with me....it ended up being my best friend and her little girl...LOL! We had a GREAT day:) So on the 4th, Tuesday, I got up and got ready to head to Newark to do our usual day of prenatals. When I got there, the midwife had gone to vote and so she wasn't back quite yet. Her phone rang...it was a 614 area code...uh oh! It was a gal that was due the 16th, 4th baby and she never goes early! Well her new little guy had other plans! We headed her way and she delivered her new son in the birth pool, just an hour and twenty min after I got there! She was so peaceful and it is just such a shame that the majority of people don't get to witness birth the way we do. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SCARY!!!

Meanwhile, our last Feb mom to go, called while above mom was pushing to say she was in early labor! This winter storm has brought on lots of labors! So once we got above mom settled we checked in on this mom. She was doing fine....contractions were more like period cramps. This is her 2nd baby, 2nd home birth. We just told her to call us when the intensity changed. Well about 10pm, she called to say she hated for us to come all the way out there if she was still "early", but they were slightly more uncomfortable. With ice looming over our area, we decided to head out. Crack me up! We get there.....she has some family members there to take her daughter.....you would NEVER know this mom is in labor. Never makes a face, never breathes heavy..nada nothing zilch. Hmmmm. So once they leave we listen to baby...sounds great. We ask to check her and she agrees, to see where she is at. 8 cm!!!!!!! Wow. So we get set up, encourage them to lay down if they can..they do for awhile, then she gets into the tub. She get's out for a bit...whooooooosh, HUGE amounts of fluid. Things intensify slightly. So anyway, she gave birth at 3ish am. (yes another boy!)....weighing almost 10lbs!

So needless to say, I am a bit tired today, slept only slightly, but can't sleep so here I am. If you are reading this and expecting, please take away from this to trust your body. It really does work with out all the meds and machines. If you are having a hospital birth in Central Ohio, STAY HOME....as long as possible! It makes for a much nicer, easier birth experience. Thanks for reading, I am going to rest now:)