Emmalog: October 2005

Halloween 2005

Emma is one month old today! She is continuing to gain weight and is keeping Renee' very busy with feeding. It is hard to believe she has been with us for a month already and how quickly she growing.

Another of Emma on Halloween

Emma awake on first Halloween

Emma on her first Halloween

Dad and Emma

The Birth Story

Sunday, October 2nd
9:30am - Renee' begins having mild contractions (pre-labor) that continue throughout the morning and afternoon.
4:00pm - 1st stage labor begins as contractions are now consistently lasting around 60 seconds or longer.
9:30pm - Labor has progressed to the point that we believe it is time to head to the birthing center (Sutter Davis about 30 minutes away).
10:00pm - The initial exam reveals that Renee' dilated to 1cm, which is less than what we were expecting. We decided to stay a few hours to see how labor progresses.

Monday, October 3rd
12:30am - A second exam reveals that Renee' is dilated to slightly more than 1cm. At this point we decide it is time to head home for some "rest."
1:00am - We arrive home and I lay down to get a little "rest" while Renee' soaks in the tub.
2:15am - Contractions are now much more intense than previously, but Renee' is handling them very well. We walk around the block several times to ensure labor continues to progress.
4:00am - The decision is made to head back to the birthing center.
6:20am - After continuing with hard labor at the birthing center the midwife is finally available for an exam (3 other babies were born between 4am and 6am so the staff was very busy). The exam reveals that Renee' is dilated to 8cm, which is exactly what she needs to hear as she has had about all that she can take.
6:30am - There is a laboring tub in the delivery room (which Renee' specifically requested to use) and it is now filled with warm water for Renee' to finish laboring. The buoyancy provided by being in the water helps Renee' be more "comfortable."
8:20am - It is finally time to push. Renee' begins to show her true strength and determination.
10:21am - Emma Roxanne Ethier is born! She is 7lbs 14oz, 20" long and very healthy. Both Mom and Emma are doing great! We are both very pleased to have a healthy baby girl and to have had a complication free birth without medication or interventions of any type. I could not be any more proud of my wife as she has just handled, with beauty and grace, something that is more difficult than I could possibly imagine.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, phone calls, e-mails, flowers and everything else.
Jared, Renee' and Emma