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Baby Boy Khalsa's Birth

OK, so this is from the Papa's perspective, but since my wife doesn't do internet, it will have to do.

Sunday, March 3, my wife gave birth to our 2nd child, a boy, in our home, under the care of a Certified Nurse Midwife.

The birth of our 1st child didn't go as planned. After 16 hrs. at the birth center, they sent us to the hospital for the pitocin, epideral, vacuum pull, etc. Attending was the Doctor who established the birth center, but whose heart obviously was no longer in natural childbirth. The birth was made difficult by an undetected posterior position.

Anyway, this time we arranged care and delivery through Bonnie Marsh, CNM. Labor and delivery lasted about 3 hours. The midwife was supportive and calming. She gave suggestions for positions to make the labor easier. My wife spent about an hour in the bathtub. For the delivery, she squatted and I supported her. The midwife continually applied a compress, which must have helped, since my wife did not tear. Our 4 year old boy got to watch his baby brother being born. The baby was immediately presented to Mama.

This birth was in stark contrast to the hospital birth - the Dr. made rude comments during delivery; the baby was not given to the mother until after a few minutes of fussing; they took the baby away in the first hour to the nursery for a bath and more fussing; and after a few hours, Mama and baby were moved to another room, and I spent the rest of the night in the lobby.

I realize home birth is not for everyone. But I'm sure glad I got through my initial reservations and went the homebirth route. Like our newborn's T-shirt says "I was born at home - surrounded by love".

GK Khalsa