That is the best way to describe the week before Levana's arrival. That feeling of discomfort and impatience and trepidation as you approach birth. The only slightly equivalent time I have had that feeling was before surgery - where the outcomes are likely favorable but unknown and where you know that you will be fit one moment and recovering the next. Regardless, I was determined in the days of late pregnancy to make the most of my time. Knowing that birth would mean a hiatus in my daily swim schedule, we upped the length of our swims. I woke the girls early in the morning to hit the ideal tide each morning to go for a snorkel. We visited a few cafes that looked appealing. And as usual, we walked a lot. So the day labour finally arrived I had already gone for a long walk in the nature reserve and spent the other half of the morning at the beach (not a bad lifestyle!) I arrived home and was feeling occasional cramps, but figured it could either turn into something or fade into memory. After lunch, Aurora asked if we could make cookies and I encouraged her to take the lead, as I was having occasional contractions. Later she laughed and said she had no idea I was in labour while we made cookies. Either way, having freshly baked cookies available after giving birth turned out to be a big win. I am an untrustworthy reporter of how I feel - and later I had a good chuckle when I read the messages I sent to the midwives. Probably it would have been better to have someone else report on how I was doing - which Jakob eventually did. 2:23 "Had a few contractions this afternoon. Nothing regular but I know you wanted a heads up" Seventeen minutes later at 2:40 "getting more regular so may be the start of something" Eight minutes later at 2:48 "I am still able to mostly read and chat through contractions but can send you updates." At 3pm Jakob finally messaged to say my contractions were getting stronger. Midwives arrived as I was taking those last minutes before having five children to finally read Snow Crash - a book Jakob has been trying to convince me to read for 20 years. Turns out reading is a decent labour and pain coping mechanism. The girls had decided beforehand they didn't want to see the actual birth, so they ran off to watch a movie and giggle in a bedroom when things started to get intense. And then, with gushes of water and screams of efficiency, Levana made her way into the world - a little battered from the birth process but plump and healthy and perfect. Though some parts of birth get easier, the experience as a whole just stays the same totally intense and mind-blowingly incredible process. How does such a large creature emerge from inside me? Honestly, looking at my daughter I am surprised she could even fit to begin with. How can I be lounging on a beach at noon and holding a new human a few hours later? Levana was born at 4:50 at 3920 grams and 55 cm length. She began breastfeeding well before the placenta had been birthed. Jakob likes to joke that I only stopped reading for a few hours as I picked up my book again later that evening as the afterpains took their role too seriously. It was painful and pushing a baby out is ia little too intense but it was also peaceful and positive and well worth it.
So much of it. I have been so grateful for this entire pregnancy journey and for this gift of a perfect little human. But I have also been grateful to have found such an incredible team of midwives to help me welcome a baby into the world in the perfect way. What a perfect spot we have gotten to relax in while we wait for a baby and now cuddle the baby. How fortunate am I to have gotten not just five amazing children but these five amazing home birth experiences. Five different homes, five different midwives, four different countries, three different continents, but each such a positive experience full of love and support. This peaceful welcome to the world is such a nice gift I have given to my children and I feel so grateful to have been able to have my children in this way.
Levana.
I know that in the coming months and years we will get tired of all the comments made by people about how we kept trying for a boy. Those comments are such rubbish and should never be said in front of my beautiful daughters. We all wanted another girl and are over the moon with happiness. Is there anything more perfect than five girls? When I only had one or two children, I thought it surely would get more ordinary having a baby if it was your 4th or 10th child. But it doesn't. It never ceases to amaze and it would never get boring. The awe and love I feel is undiminished. It was a struggle to name you, Levana, but we came to a beautiful outcome and meaning. Seems like a life of beauty can be led with a name meaning 'moon song'. Fitting, too, that translated into Spanish your last name is the name of your place of your birth - just like people used to be named. Then again 'that which we call a rose -by any other name would smell as sweet.' Welcome to the world Levana - we are all so glad to have you by our sides!
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Levana Shir Teitelbaum |
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Such a warm welcome to the world! And such great photographers on our midwifery team! |
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Post birth new family portrait |
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Birth is exhausting! |
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Recovering from birth |
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Going to be fun to be the youngest of this group |
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A girl with her baby sister |
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In Tova's words: "she is even cuter than I expected" |
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We hope she keeps these highlights |
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ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! Welcome Levana.
ReplyDeleteLove this birth story. How beautiful for each birth to be so special. Can't wait to meet your newest human and introduce you to mine.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah! Will hope we get to see your before our babies start walking :)
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