Ella enters the world

Relaxing when we first arrived at the birth center.

http://www.bozemanbirthcenter.com/

We got in the tub a little after midnight.  

Mark told me hiking stories during rushes to keep me relaxed. 

Mark was an amazing birth partner. 

Initiating breastfeeding

We went home within a few hours of Ella's birth!  I felt great! 

Christmas Day, 3 days after birth, belly almost back to normal. 

Auntie Lissa arrives in Bozeman to visit Ella - a week after birth. 

Jesse and Sarah visit Ella for the first time. 

Where's Ella? 

Nana and Grandpa arrive in Bozeman to visit Ella - a week after birth. 

Getting our car seat inspected by the Bozeman fire department 

Dinko the dragon

Gigi Lou arrives in Bozeman to visit Ella - January

Pictures on our condo balcony in Bozeman, MT. 

Beautiful blanket made by Gigi Lou!

The whole family!

Reading Love you Forever! 

First manicure

Ella in one of Amber's outfits

Photo we used for the birth announcement 

Saying bye to Nana at the Bozeman airport, she spent a month with us! 

Smoke from the downtown Bozeman explosion 

Getting ready to hike! 

Hiking at Sourdough Creek 

Lunch at Weebees 

I started having rushes at about 630 pm on December 21st 2008, they were about 6 minutes apart.  They slowly got closer together but were very mild until by waters broke with an audible "pop" at about 10 pm.  At this point I could feel more pressure on my pelvis and I wanted to go to the freestanding Bozeman Birth Center (the birth center was about a mile from our house) so we called Stacey and told her we were on our way.  The birth center felt like home and had everything that a midwife would have brought to my home if I had planned a home birth. I was in a relaxing environment surrounded by positive and calm attendants educated in natural childbirth.  Nobody was pushing drugs or telling me to lay on my back.  I did what I wanted, when I wanted.  Mark said reassuring words to me throughout labor to keep me going and everyone let us labor together, as a couple, the way it should be.  I got into the tub around midnight when the pressure was getting stronger, this was after I spent a lot of time on the toilet and threw up once ; )  It only felt like an hour but the next time I looked at the clock it was after 5 in the morning!  I could feel Ella's hair and her head was starting to go partially out and back in again with every rush.  I remember at one point asking my midwife just to pull her out with the next rush but of course Stacey reassured me in her calm voice that I was doing great and the baby was almost out.  I'm so glad I didn't rush labor because this prevented me from having any outer tears.  I did have one small tear on the inside, they think Ella's elbow may have caught me on the way out because she did a little turn.  Ella did come out on her own time and Stacey and Mark lifted her onto my chest, more so Stacey since Mark didn't act quickly enough.  I think we were both in shock.  Mark said he didn't have time to look so I had to tell him that it's a girl!  We sat in the tub for a while staring at each other then we went to the bed where Ella started to try to nurse.  We waited a long time to cut the cord since we wanted to wait for pulsing to cease so Ella could get all the nutrients and oxygen to her brain for optimal health.  Mark cut the cord and we all snuggled up together.  We went home only a couple of hours later, I had so much energy and couldn't wait to get settled in at our home as a family!  I never felt so alive and full of energy after doing so much work, the hormones released during natural labor are pretty incredible.  Here are some photos from the labor and birth!

For more information on birthing with the love of a midwife or home birth visit:

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/
http://www.pregnantinamerica.com/
http://www.thefarm.org/midwives/index.html


Mark's email to announce Ella's arrival:

Amber and I welcomed our beautiful baby daughter into the world today. Ella Sabine was born at 5:42 am, Dec. 22., weighing in at 6 lbs 4oz. and was 18 and 3/4 in. long. Mom and baby are doing well, and we are so happy and thankful for a healthy birth and child.

  Amber started having regular contractions Sunday night at about 6:30 pm which steadily increased in intensity until her water broke at about 10 pm. At this point we headed over to the Bozeman Birth Center (not the hospital!) where we met our midwife Stacey who let us relax together in a cozy bed by the fireplace as the labor progressed. Then a little after midnight Amber and I moved together into the birthing tub, where Amber started doing the hard work of moving Ella out into the world, and Mark told her funny stories during contractions to keep her distracted and helped her rest in between surges.

  After several hours of Amber's hard work in the tub little Ella emerged into the water and Mark and Stacy helped her onto Amber chest. (Amber was so amazingly strong and listened to her body the whole way!) Ella came into this world wide-eyed, calm, and with barely a cry, which we largely attribute to a relaxing atmosphere and a drug-free birth. She was able to snuggle with Amber without interruption for several hours while Mark looked on with a mixture of pure joy and utter amazement.

  Amber was ready to bring Ella home this later this morning, and we were home a little before 11 am. Ella has started nursing already, but Stacey will visit us tomorrow morning to help us work out any kinks. As I write this, Mom and baby are snuggling happily together in bed.

-Mark