Elly's second birth story

We had such a beautiful day, the sun was shining, it was warm. I got excited about the peonies flowering for the first time this season, that felt like a sign. We spent the day as a family and Arlo and I spent the afternoon down in the native garden splashing and laughing, we got a few beautiful photos as I didn’t have any photos of you in my belly! I remember thinking of this is our last day as a family of three I would be really grateful that it was today. I didn’t expect you to arrive, I had been having surges on and off since Monday. I knew you were making your way earthside but my body had been quiet for the last few days. I was ready for you though, we were ready for you.

I started having some light activity around 6pm and then after Arlo went to sleep I was having surges every 10 minutes. I went to bed thinking they would settle like they had been. But they started to build, I remember telling your dad to get some sleep as I think you are coming. We thought we had a longer road ahead of us but something told me you would enter the world swiftly and relatively “on time”. By 10:30 I was surging 2 minutes apart but everything was pretty mild we still had ways to go or so we thought! We decided to call Jo and let her know what was happening but that we would call her back when we wanted her to start heading over. By 11:30 you were really starting to get ready and we called her back asking her to come.

Your dad started to get the pool ready down in the bungalow, luckily we had prepared the space and pumped up the pool a few days prior. I was in the loft surging and it was the most incredible feeling as compared to Arlo’s birth as I could feel your progression. I felt you start to move down, I was in the living room trying to be quiet as Arlo was sleeping and I remember rocking on my hands and knees feeling you come down the birth canal, calling for you and welcoming you as you made your way. We were dancing together that’s what it felt like. Then your dad came back up and we started to make our way down to the birth space but it took a little bit of time needing to stop and contract a few times you were getting close. As soon as we settled into the space I felt so intensely that you were ready and I needed to push. Your dad went to help Jo and I jumped in the half filled pool and had to push! When they reentered the space you were already half way here.

I remember calling for Kim to come and he thought we had hours to go so he was beautifully surprised when Jo told him your head was already through. One more big beautiful surge and I pulled you out and into my arms in the pool. You were born at 12:52pm You were such an incredible experience, so empowering for me and we really did dance and create this experience together!

We spent a wee while just connecting and feeding before I birthed your placenta and we started to make our way back up to the loft. I walked much slower with Candice and your dad took you up to our home. When I walked in the door Arlo was awake sitting on the couch as he had woken up as you and your dad walked in. “Hi mama this is my baby sister”

It was such a beautiful hour all 4 of us just connecting, me getting refreshed and Arlo falling in love with you and helping Jo and Candice, before we all settled into bed for the night.

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