Oren Adlay's birth story

Had a sort of restless night, Nolia barking, Drew snoring, having to go potty... a few contractions uncomfortable enough for me to get up and see if things would progress but they would quit, so I returned to bed. Almost relieved when Drew’s alarm went off to go milk, so I could get up and get some things done.

Did ordinary morning chores and contracted here and there but quite distant from each other and manageable. Figured it was just more prelabor stuff.

Enjoyed our cold brew date on the studio porch, witnessed the incredible diversity of trees that we can see from right there, 25-30 different species! Glorious.

I kept contracting every so often (distant enough that I didn't feel right calling it labor) and sitting in a chair was annoying me, so I said I wanted to go look at the garden. He was wearing a blanket on his shoulders because it was chilly and we had taken it up to sit on the porch and bundle a bit, it just wasn’t a cold brew kind of morning! He weeded that way for a while, then we both ended up with extra layers off, his shirt and my hoodie off and onto the fence when the sun came over the trees onto the garden. Come to think of it, my hoodie is likely still there.

The kiddos got up and started chores, such a blessing and they were all so bright and beautiful to see. Arden commented that the baby wasn’t born yet. Laurel came into the garden to snuggle a bit. Thayer hollered explosively for the dogs to feed them.  The smell of whatever died under the shop kept coming by.

After Drew went in to start breakfast, he decided he wanted do some kale. I asked if I could get kale and he could empty my weeding buckets, I imagined if I were in labor that weeding would be a mighty fine way to get something done between contractions if they lasted all day, since it was so glorious and we were making such great headway!

After I went in though, I saw a load of clothes on the line, took that off and folded it while Drew made eggs, kale and onions, then toast. My appetite was not usual and I kept getting up to drape myself over the aerial silk while swaying a little. During breakfast I showed Drew a desk I had seen on Craigslist and we decided it was perfect, and he said he’d go get it with the boys, and leave the girls. Kaede did not appreciate that plan and started throwing a fit about the time I felt some mighty fine uterine rushes...I was not gracious. Poor babes. Arden ended up taking her upstairs to play hair salon, the guys left at 10:38. I poured a glass of laboraid after telling Arden she might have to carry Cayla’s milk out for me, I wasn’t feeling social. I hung out in our dark, cool bedroom but felt the urge to sit in the bath, wherein I decided I was wimping out WAY too early and why didn’t I remember it being so tough so soon? I counted contraction times for a bit and then gave up, knowing it didn’t matter I was just curious as Drew was gone, and you lose track of time when you’re in labor! I prayed he would return before I birthed, and then checked out his location a couple times.

When they got back, I heard Cormac’s precious voice, but I knew Drew would probably try to get the desk to the studio right away. I was feeling thirsty but no one was in the house to grab my water off of our dresser for me. I texted Drew but got no answer so I called him. Sort of feeling needy all of a sudden for his presence. Everyone came in the house then, loud as can be and I didn’t want it so. He sent them to the playroom which they happily obliged. He stayed with me, got me the herbal oil I’d infused, then a towel for me because I suddenly wanted to drain the tub when I saw mucus/blood floaties, and other things that may have already been in the tub! I imagined I’d refill it and then labor a while longer before getting out and going to our room. Once it was empty though, I felt it was close and asked for our special beach towel to be laid in the bottom of the tub. I prayed about it, consciously determined NOT to grow impatient and break the amniotic sac this time even though I could feel it bulging and the head on the other side!! When you’re that close, and you want the full effect of FER to kick in it is very tempting to press forward!! I told Abba I trust his design and the water would break at the right time. I got up on my knees, felt my cervix and the head was just behind a remainder of very soft cervix, that I started pressing up and to the front, over the part of the head I could feel, knowing it would trigger a contraction, and it did. A very forceful, sudden "power of God" (meaning not of my strength!) contraction that started off by bursting the waters, and didn’t stop flowing...his head was born, I took a breath mid-contraction and then birthed his body receiving and riding the power of the rest of the same contraction.

It was all so quiet. Not because I was worried about scarring the kids, it just felt like such a zero drama moment and he was here. Ordinary miracle. He was also quiet, not screaming, not turning blue, just incredibly peaceful from the first moment I met him. It was so fast, I had to ask Drew who caught, he said he did even though both of us were reaching down for him. Wow. Such a sacred, powerful knitting experience for our oneness. How good the Lord is.

Before the placenta even came, we called the kiddos in since there was really nothing to hide or clean up at that point, and the big ones have seen birth before anyway. They all marveled and eyes sparkled as they welcomed “him” to our family.

burning his cord

Daddy burning Oren's cord

I felt the placenta moving out so we sent them out so I could adjust positions. After Drew went out for a few minutes, I played “He Is Good” and “With Grateful Hearts” off of my phone. Then I handed him to Drew, received a glorious warm shower, and then went into our room to enjoy more snuggles. 

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This postpartum has been different, better than any other. That "ring of fire"...it was completely absent. There was no hollowed-out breath knocked out feeling when I stood, no shaking. Afterpains were unpleasant but not unexpected, as my womb likes to shrink fast. Oren is still quiet. Sweet and patient, never spits up, sleeps at night, I'm not even leaking, and I'm not sure what to think of all these miracles together. I feel so normal it's extremely difficult to "take it easy". 

Oren's first bath, 8 days fresh. In herbal bath tea that is!