Birth slideshow

I don't think there's anything too graphic but it IS a birth so don't click on the link if you're squeamish.

http://bloomaustin.com/finn/

He's here.

We welcomed Finnegan (Finn) Michael Thomas into the world on Saturday, 11/28. He was born in the water at 10:30 am weighing in at 8 lb 11 oz (an ounce smaller than Audrey) and 20 3/4 inches (2 inches taller than she was). He's perfectly healthy and is a total rock star in the nursing department. I'm in love.

Labor was fast and furious. I had been steadily losing my mucus plug over the past few days and was pretty darn miserable so I suspected the end was approaching. I had a few contractions (and bloody show - gag) Friday night but nothing worth timing or anything. Audrey woke up at 6 am yesterday and we hung out together and had breakfast. I started to notice a regular pattern of contractions lasting about 45 seconds and coming 4-6 minutes apart. They weren't very intense until around 7:30 am - at that point I called the birthing center, woke up my sister and finished packing my bag. Todd and I headed over to the BC at 9. My midwife checked me out and I was completely effaced and dilated around 5-6 cm. I got into the tub right away - Finn was still really high and turned posterior. The water was a huge help to manage the pain. The contactions got even more intense inthe water. I tried a few different positions to get some relief and found a combo of things that worked. I ended up draping myself over the edge of the tub to let gravity help him descend and in the process he turned himself around. Hopefully he'll always be so accommodating :P

Transition sucked, of course. But it was short - maybe 20 minutes. My midwife was amazing and really helped me to get centered and focused in letting my body do what it was supposed to. I had such an awful tear with Audrey because when I felt like pushing I just charged ahead. This time was totally different. It was really, really hard to just let it happen but we did it and Finn was born with just three pushes.

Our photographer made it just in time! I think Finn was crowning as she walked into the room :) She sent me a few photos already but I'm not sure if I can post them from my phone. It was SO nice to sleep in my own bed last night - and tonsee Audrey. So far she's crazy about "her baby" and is loving on him as much as possible. We'll see how long that lasts :)

Finn is super snuggley and wants to sleep with his face smashed against my boob. He squeaks all the time and has the tiniest little feet ever. <3

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It was pretty much perfect with the exception of all the pain :P Everyone there was exactly what I needed them to be. The midwife was just bossy enough, Todd was a rock star and the nurse was terrific. I loved the birth center environment. I was a little regretful of going that route instead of a homebirth but I wouldn't have changed a thing in retrospect.