Baby Girl, born in water at 4:54 PM, 8 lbs 9 oz
Baby Elizabeth Irene was born Friday, March 22, 2013, at 4:54pm in a
very special family-attended water birth. She weighed 8 lbs and 9 oz.
and was 21 inches long. But mom (Sarah) and dad (Mark)
didn’t have enough time to make it to Auburn Birthing Center before
she was born!
She was born at home, much more quickly than anticipated, so the
family was simply thankful that Daddy made it home from work for the
sacred family event. He had the privilege of seeing Elizabeth crown
and catching her, with Melody (4 ½) by his side! Everyone was
surprised to play a different role than they planned on-but they say
that, “with God’s help, we all did great.”
Baby Elizabeth’s middle name is Irene (“peace”) because mom, sisters
Melody and Evelyn and dad all had such an incredible sense of calm in
the unplanned but exciting situation: Melody had the privilege of
being with mom during the entire experience, watching the clock and
praying for her. Evelyn (2 ½) followed her sister’s instructions and
played nicely in her bedroom, coming in to meet baby after her birth.
When dad came home to see Elizabeth was about to be born, mom said,
“I’m fine–I’m totally fine!” Grammy Lori, the planned caretaker for
the siblings, also arrived shortly after Elizabeth’s birth. Everyone
performed wonderfully.
When asked later if seeing the baby being born was scary, Melody said,
“No– it was exciting!!” Having read two books on the Bradley Method
of natural childbirth gave mom and dad much confidence through the
experience.
“No hospital stay would have been anything like the care that we felt
as we arrived at ABC 90 minutes after Elizabeth’s birth. It felt like
arriving back at home. We felt most confident in the midwives’
knowledge and care as they served us in every way, and are so thankful
for this gem of a facility, and especially for these loving
professional health care providers, in our area. They are an
incredible blessing from God to northeast Indiana. And though we were
in the past apprehensive about being home on our own so soon after the
birth, we found it to be another perfect part of the experience, to
return home a few short hours later.”
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Sarah and Mark,
Thank you for this lovely birth-story. I’m SO PROUD of all of you for handling the amazing event like PROS!! I’m also very grateful that it was accomplished with NO complications for any of you. I’m thankful you had a wonderful, dependable husband with you and had, via telephone, advice and instruction from the staff at the Auburn Birthing Center as well as the Emergency Medical Technicians at the house. And for Grammy Lori’s presence as soon as she could get there! I’m SO thankful that all of you are healthy and enjoying each other and have a unique experience to laugh about in the years to come. I can hardly stand waiting until I can HUG ALL OF YOU and hold another wondrous grandchild in my arms. ( You certainly couldn’t name her “Patience”!! ) Elizabeth Irene is a lovely, old fashioned name. Love you LOTS, Nana XXXXXOOOOO
Oh my dear Nana, thank you and how I miss you!
Yes, I was able to keep Mark mostly calm once he arrived for the imminent birth. And the 4-year old must have handled the 2-year old masterfully because she on her best behavior to date and I didn’t hear a peep out of her until we called her to meet the new baby. I am pretty sure she had no idea mommy was having a baby at the time though! But you heard Melody—“It was exciting!” Ha! I forgot she said that!!!
XOXO
Sarah
And this was as perfect a birth experience as anyone could ask for. So peaceful and easy; God provided for me bountifully.