| Baby Ella was due April 30, 2003. On April 22 I met with my midwife and checked how things were going. At this time I was 5 cm dialated and about 80% effaced so birth was imminent. For the net two days I lost my show and at 5:13 on thursday the 24 I started timeing mild contractions 5 minutes apart. I think the long walk I took helped. At 6:30 my water broke and I called Aunt Phyllis. I rushed around the garage with my skirt bunched between my legs looking for microscope slides while I waited for Aunt phyllis. I was able to take a sample of the amniotic fluid and observe before sitting down to watch monsters inc. Kelli had been called and still had not arrived. Aunt Phyllis was fraantic and bythe time the movie was over I wass iss great discomfort. We moved to the bath tub and I proceded to work through my contractions in the warm water. When aa contractioon came I went under holding my breath! Kelli finally arrived and managed to get set up when it was time to have Ella. She made her way down the birth canal in about 5 strong pushes. I could reach down and feel the top of her head for the last finger tip length. One strong push and out came the head, next the body followed. Groaning loadly helped and at the birth of the placenta my job was finished. Ella entered into the water at 8:59. My midwife was in attendance for 24 minutes. She had a flat tire on the way over. The baby was placed on my chest while the embilical cord stopped pumping. We were so in awe that it was a few minutes before any of us checked the sex! It was beuatiful looking into those peaceful eyes. She was rinsed and dried well while I made my way to my bed and I am still in awe three weeks later. What a gift.
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