Baby makes three...

Peter Alan has arrived! He was born at home after an eight-hour labour. I went into labour at 12:30 on Friday morning. I woke Julian at 2:30 to let him know things were happening. We went for a nice long walk around the neighbourhood. By the time we got back, I was very focussed on the contractions. I lay on the floor clutching the exercise ball. Julian called our doula and midwife. They arrived about an hour later and watched my contractions. I was able to hear the baby's heartbeat, which was a big relief to me, as I just wanted to know s/he was doing okay during that time.

After a while, the midwife offered an exam, which I accepted. I was hoping to be at least 5 centimetres as I didn't want to get in the bath before then, but I knew some hot water would offer a lot of pain relief. Much to my amazement, she said I was just shy of 10 centimetres dilated! None of us could believe it. I got in the bathtub and kept labouring.

I was still relatively coherent between contractions, though I was nauseous. The doula and Julian were extraordinary at that point. I even threw up on our doula! After a while I got out to sit for a while and labour some more. My water finally broke, as it had remained intact the entire time. At that point I really felt the urge to push, so I did. I could feel the baby's head, so I got back in the bath. One great push later and the head was fully out. His cord was wrapped loosely around his neck (I didn't see this, but Julian told me). The student midwife quickly unlooped him. I pushed again he was born!

He was passed through the water to me and I held him up to my chest. We did not know the gender, so I looked and saw that we'd had a little boy! I had to check again a few minutes later as I had been so sure it would be a girl. Nope, still there! After a little bonding, he was passed to Julian to hold him and get his cord taken care of.

I was helped to bed, and they brought the beautiful little baby to me. It took me a few moments, maybe even hours, to realise he was really ours but we both feel like the luckiest people in the world. He really is the sweetest baby, and every finger twitch or grimace inspires a fresh and overwhelming surge of love.

Peter Alan is named after his two grandpas. He was 7lb 7oz and almost 21 inches long.