This is the story of how Henry was born…

IMG_0021

We have a mattress topper that I lovingly refer to as “the cloud.”  The cloud is a memory foam topper and is, quite possibly, the most amazing possession that I own.  I can’t sleep well without it.  Throughout my third trimester, I became obsessed with the idea that my water would break while I was sleeping on the cloud, and I’d ruin it.  Eventually, I put a waterproof mattress cover, two towels, and a trash bag under my fitted sheet and over the cloud.  Most women don’t even have the dramatic break in water you seen in the movies, and the odds that it would happen my bed were even slimmer.  But like I said, I love the cloud. 

 

Thus, I should’ve known better to receive acupuncture right before going to bed!  A mere five and a half hours after the Husband gave me an acupuncture session to help move along labor, I woke up and knew my water was breaking.  I quickly stood up, grabbed a towel off the bed, and pressed it against me.  “Kristien!” I stage-whispered. “Kristien! KRISTIEN!”  Finally, the Husband woke up.  I told him my water had broken, and he looked terribly confused about what was happening.  “Are you sure?” he asked drowsily.  “Oh yes,” I replied.  “I’m 100% positive.”  I paused and slowly continued, “…. But I don’t have any contractions yet.”  This was not good.

 

Our Bradley Method natural birth classes taught us that, in this scenario, we both should go back to bed and try to sleep; the contractions would start soon enough.  Bradley also taught us to labor at home as long as possible and arrive at the hospital deep in active labor to minimize the risks of ‘unnecessary’ medical interventions.  Many of the women in my class arrived at the hospital an hour or two before delivering, basically pushing in the parking lot.  But I had a confounding issue looming over my head:  I was Group B Strep positive.  Group B Strep is a very common bacteria infection (present in about 25% of healthy women) that can be passed to the infant during labor.  While it’s not a big deal that I have the bacteria, if Henry had contracted it during delivery, he could’ve suffered from a variety of health issues, such as sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis.  The risk of passing Group B Strep to a baby during labor is 1 out of 200 without antibiotics and 1 in 4000 with (source).  To ensure protection, the mother needs at least one dose of antibiotics four hours prior to delivery – it’s even better to get two doses.   It was obvious to Kristien and I that we had to make it to the hospital with more than enough time to spare to ensure I had antibiotics in my system at least four hours prior to delivery. 

 

Very often, a woman’s water doesn’t break until she’s deep in labor.  My water breaking before contractions started further complicated the Group B Strep issue because the protective ‘seal’ around the baby was broken, exposing him to greater risk.  However, I really did not want to arrive at the hospital without any contractions, as I was concerned my birth team may press us to unnecessarily artificially induce contractions with Pitocin or another drug.  After a little discussion about our options and going over our midwife’s recommendations, we decided to give it a few hours and see what happened.  I said to Kristien, “I have complete faith that my contractions will start very soon… let’s just wait and see.”  

 

Neither of us could sleep as we waited.  Kristien showered, shaved, and laid out his clothes; he also pulled together the final odds and ends for our luggage and prepped the car. 

IMG_0002

I cleaned the kitchen, folded laundry, and wrote a blog post.  Around 3:00 AM, Kristien went to the guest room to sleep, and I laid in our bed, waiting for contractions to start.  At 3:45, I had my first contraction.  I was more excited than anything!  I used an app on my iPhone to time the contractions and realized they were about 10 – 15 minutes apart.  At one point, I must’ve fallen asleep because I woke up and noticed that it had been 35 minutes since my last recorded contraction.  So that means that the night before I delivered Henry, I got a grand total of two and half hours of sleep. 

 

Around dawn, I decided to call my mother so she could begin driving from Knoxville to Charlotte.  I showered, blow-dried my hair (why not?), and cooked Kristien and myself a big breakfast.  I woke him up an hour later and, after eating, we decided to head out the door.

IMG_0009

It was strange – I had a lot of trouble leaving.  I kept putting things away and straightening messes.  I hugged the dogs a million times.  Kristien was sitting in the car, hollering at me to hurry up, and I still couldn’t leave.  I wasn’t scared of labor, but I was weirded out about leaving the house – I knew that we’d leave as two and come back as three. 

 

By this point, my contractions were a little more frequent and more painful.  I had four contractions in the car, and it was excruciating to have to sit through them. 

 

When we arrived at the hospital, Kristien parked in the furthest corner of the lot because I wanted to walk to the front door (walking moving things along).  By the time we were checked into triage, it was about 8:30 AM – I was glad we had left when we did because check-in took much longer than anticipated (somehow, the hospital misplaced my pre-registration information).  I was contracting every four to six minutes, and I would estimate my pain during the contractions were about a 5 or 6 on a scale of 10 – not too bad. 

IMG_0011

And that’s when I met my nurse, Debbie, also known as the best nurse that I could’ve possibly been assigned.  She was warm and kind, said all the right things through the entire delivery, comforted me, and even stayed two hours after the end of her shift just to see Henry be born.  She practically functioned as my doula.  After Debbie ran some tests, my nurse midwife, Sage, came into the room and ‘checked my progress’ – I was about four centimeters dilated and 90% effaced. 

 

For those who are unfamiliar with physical process of labor, the cervix (the opening to the uterus) has to dilate from 0 centimeters to 10 centimeters so the baby can move through the birth canal.  It also has to efface, or thin out, completely.  I was pumped that I was so far along!

IMG_0013

They moved me from the triage room into my delivery room.  At this point, our Bradley teachings really kicked in for Kristsien.  Bradley is a husband-coached style of natural childbirth, and Kristien had a very important role to play as my supporter and advocate.  He went over our birth plan with Debbie and Sage, emphasizing the most important things to me were that I was not offered an epidural or contraction-increasing drugs; that we let the cord pulsate after delivery; that we took the placenta home with us; and that he announced the baby’s sex.  The birth team was completely on board.

IMG_0015

Debbie immediately started my antibiotic drip to ensure the baby was protected against Group B Strep.  After I had my full dose, we were left alone in the room for a few hours, and my contractions started to get more and more intense.  Kristien suggested that I try walking the halls, and we slowly made our way to the nursery so we could look at the babies.  It was so crazy to think that in a few hours, we would hold our baby! 

 

It was around 11:00 AM, I had been contracting for over seven hours, and I was completely convinced that I would have the baby by 3:30 PM at the very latest.  Oh, if I only knew the truth….

 

Stay tuned for Part II!

{ 98 comments }

 

  • Nessa @ Isle Style Living June 16, 2012, 4:10 am

    OMG what a cliffhanger!

    I need to know what happened next (well, duh, you had Henry but I want the whole story LOL).

    How exciting!

  • Alex June 16, 2012, 4:17 am

    Ahhh so amazing, can’t wait for the next post! Love the Daddy-to-be sticker, haha!

  • Caroline @ chocolate and carrots June 16, 2012, 4:18 am

    This is so exciting! I just had my first two weeks ago. It’s amazing how different everyone’s stories are. My birth story is here if you want to read it. 🙂 http://chocolateandcarrots.com/crackersandcarrots/2012/06/the-birth-story Can’t wait to read part II!

  • Alexis June 16, 2012, 4:21 am

    Yayyyy I’ve been so eagerly awaiting this story (and hoping to learn that you got the labor/delivery experience that you hoped for)! It made my night to see on Facebook that this was up:) but the fact that it’s up at 4am Eastern (I’m in Hawaii so it’s only 10pm here!) makes me nervous for my own babies one day hahaha

  • Hotpotatokate June 16, 2012, 4:22 am

    I had a VERY similar start to labour (water broke 11pm, contractions started about 1am), I was 90% effaced and 4cm at my first exam (I was still at home then) and I was in labour for 18 hours! (although a lot of it was bearable). Can’t wait to read more!

  • Lauren June 16, 2012, 4:22 am

    Oh my goodness, the suspense!! It’s an amazing story to read so far. Thanks for sharing it 🙂

  • Nikole June 16, 2012, 4:24 am

    My water broke too without any contractions. My son is 5 weeks and up nursing now. Love there is your story to read. I cannot wait to hear the rest. My plan didn’t go as planned either (forceps) but it was amazing and eventhough it is 3am and I am up…I am loving every minute. Congratulations …Henry is gorgeous and you are doing great!

  • Kirsten @ Confessions of a Jogaholic June 16, 2012, 4:32 am

    I want to be the kind of blogger who writes a blog post before leaving for the hospital too! (says the ‘very single, not-even-close-to-pregnant’ one…Haha) That’s awesome. I also love how you guys have taken pics along the way. So special! Ps- Congrats! 🙂

  • Heather June 16, 2012, 4:56 am

    Haha I’m glad you saved your bed- there’s no mess like your water breaking! Mine broke before labor started too & I had to go in for antibiotics also since I didn’t have group b results yet. Definitely complicates the timing!

  • Claire June 16, 2012, 4:57 am

    Great story so far! I also put protective coverings over our (crappy) mattress, unnecessarily as it turned out on all 3 occassions! My waters broke each time in the pushing stage right before they were born. I also remember the pain of contractions in the car – murder! For my first, I couldn’t sit properly in the car – I was kneeling on the seat facing backwards for the whole 20 minute ride to the hospital!

  • Jessica June 16, 2012, 5:42 am

    That first photo of you guys made my heart flutter a little.

    I am just not a maternal or ‘baby’ person at all but your posts throughout the pregnancy have been so interesting and refreshing to read (even though I can’t and wouldn’t ever have kids of my own) – I usually just skip over pregnancy posts on other blogs but I think I’ve followed your whole journey from beginning to end. And, illustrating another brilliant writing strategy, you’ve left us all on the edge of our seats for part III 😉

    • Maria June 16, 2012, 12:36 pm

      I am having the same experience. I never thought I would be following a pregnancy blog but I have really enjoyed all the posts and can’t wait to read the full birth story!

      • Elisabeth June 16, 2012, 7:19 pm

        I’m the same way! I don’t want kids, but I’ve loved reading your weekly pregnancy posts & all the posts about Henry. I love that first picture with the 3 of you 🙂

    • Jen June 16, 2012, 8:45 pm

      I fourth this! I want no kids of my own but i was so excited to see the post that everything had started! Cant wait to read the rest!

  • Meghan June 16, 2012, 6:23 am

    My water broke at home after only a few contractions. Stood up from the ball and gush all over the floor, like the movies. I was laughing so hard yelling for my husband trying to keep the dog from licking me. Fortunate for my my son was born 4 hours later unfortunate for me I through my natural birth out the window thanks to the contractions then coming every 2 minutes!

    Can’t wait to hear the rest and Henry is adorable. Don’t forget one of Thomas the Tanks friends is Henry! We just found out there is a Terance the tractor (our son)

  • Jen June 16, 2012, 6:31 am

    Sage delivered W, too! Loved her! And I also had a protective, waterproof pad on our mattress. Of course my water broke in the car!

  • Niki (Running In Pink) June 16, 2012, 6:45 am

    My water broke at a friend’s house as we were getting ready for dinner! Luckily, they had two kids of their own and were not grossed out at all. My friend just handed me a few towels and told me, “You might as well stay for dinner–you might not get to eat at the hospital!” 🙂

    Excited for part II!

  • Natalie Rae June 16, 2012, 6:51 am

    Excited to hear part 2!

  • Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) June 16, 2012, 7:11 am

    I was (am??) also Strep B positive and received those meds prior to delivery. Can’t wait to read the rest of your story! So happy for you.

  • Kelly@runmarun June 16, 2012, 7:24 am

    So fun to read your story!! I can’t wait for the next part- this is such an amazingly special time for your family!!

  • Xiomara @ Parkesdale June 16, 2012, 7:27 am

    What a great cliffhanger! My water broke for both my babies at our home luckily. Being the worry wart that I am, we rushed to the hospital right away both times. 🙂 Should have stayed home and ate! Both my girls came about 12 hours later! Congrats! Can’t wait to read more.

  • Janelle June 16, 2012, 7:30 am

    Thanks for sharing! Anxious to hear the rest. My due date is 6/18 and I’m so curious about others birth stories. Your son is beautiful. Congrats!

  • Megan June 16, 2012, 7:31 am

    More! Give us more! LOL

    Hope you’re feeling well!

  • danielle June 16, 2012, 7:46 am

    Love the story so far but just wanted to give you a major high five for having posted several blogs (this one with lots of writing especially!)with a brand new baby at home! Not easy in those first few days for sure!!!

  • Christina June 16, 2012, 8:08 am

    So happy for you both! Sounds like you had an amazing “beginning” of delivery! lol. Everything sounds like it went great. I think a lot of women go through the fact that they “want” to go to the hospital but they don’t “want” to leave home. I think it’s also a comfort zone. Probably also a reason some people deliver at home.

  • Katie @ Soulshine and Sassafras June 16, 2012, 8:09 am

    That picture of you two looking at Henry just KILLED ME. Immediately started crying.

  • Stace June 16, 2012, 8:28 am

    I love love love the pic of you and the husband right before you leave the house to go to the hospital! You both looks so great! Can’t wait to hear the rest! I love exclamation points! Haha

  • Erin June 16, 2012, 8:35 am

    Your family photo is absolutely beautiful! The look on Kristien’s face is so, so sweet. Congratulations! Can’t wait to read the rest.

    • Michaela June 16, 2012, 11:50 am

      Isn’t it? The look on his face nearly brought me to tears!

      • Amanda June 16, 2012, 5:14 pm

        Me too!

  • Brie June 16, 2012, 8:41 am

    Eep, I love this.

    My greatest fear is that my water is going to break at work in a meeting. How awkward would that be? I plan on working up until my due date, so it’s a real possibility.

    I am also terrified to labor in the car. Our hospital is about half an hour from our house!

  • Lindsay June 16, 2012, 8:48 am

    I was so excited to see this! Can’t wait for part II 🙂

  • MMM, RPA-C June 16, 2012, 9:11 am

    Hi Caitlin,
    CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!! I have been reading your blog for years and thoroughly enjoy it. Just wanted to point out that I think you accidently switched the stats of transmitting GBS: it’s 1 in 200 w/out antibiotics and 1 in 4000 with antibiotics (very necessary to decrease the risk). My sister and brother-in-law used the Bradley Method with both there pregnancies and had nothing but great things to say about it. My best wishes to you and your family! Cheers, M3

  • Shari June 16, 2012, 9:12 am

    Debbie sounds so sweet! One of my best friends is a labor & delivery nurse and she often stays after her shift’s ended to be there for her patients’ deliveries, too. What an amazing job it must be.

    And what an amazing job you did through it all! Can’t wait to read the next part!

  • MMM, RPA-C June 16, 2012, 9:12 am

    Hi Caitlin,
    CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!! I have been reading your blog for years and thoroughly enjoy it. Just wanted to point out that I think you accidently switched the stats of transmitting GBS: it’s 1 in 200 w/out antibiotics and 1 in 4000 with antibiotics (very necessary to decrease the risk). My sister and brother-in-law used the Bradley Method with both their pregnancies and had nothing but great things to say about it. My best wishes to you and your family! Cheers, M3

  • Julie June 16, 2012, 9:28 am

    Love this post! I can’t wait until Part II. Congrats to you and your fam 🙂 Enjoy this time!

  • Earthy Nicole June 16, 2012, 9:28 am

    I love birth stories! I’ve always felt like in comparison to pregnancy, labor and birth happened so fast, so reading other birth stories lets me reminisce a little bit!

  • Erica June 16, 2012, 9:47 am

    Can’t wait to read part II! You know, I was thinking as I was reading this (and following BabyHTP all throughout pregnancy), that this blog and record of his impending arrival is such a beautiful gift for him. I wonder if there is a way to get the “Baby” section printed and bound to have in print for you forever? It’s like an baby book to the millionth degree! So proud of you, Momma:)

  • Tara June 16, 2012, 9:48 am

    Thanks for sharing your birth story. I had to smile when I read you thought he would be born by 3:30pm. I labored at home for several hours with my son. When I finally went to the hospital at midnight I was at 7cm and the staff told me he would be born by 6am. I foolishly got that time stuck in my head and kept counting down the hours…at noon he decided to make his appearance. Labor is so unpredictable that time really does just go out the window!

    Can’t wait to read part II!

  • luv what you do June 16, 2012, 9:49 am

    You write so beautifully about your story. I love how proactive you guys were about everything in the hospital!

  • Molly @ RDexposed June 16, 2012, 10:00 am

    That picture literally is of Kristien falling in love!

  • Mae June 16, 2012, 10:10 am

    What a beautiful story and a beautiful family. Reading along has brought me to tears! Thank you so much for sharing.

  • Angela June 16, 2012, 10:28 am

    The moment in the first picture was captured so beautifully. 🙂 So much love for baby Henry. Hope you are all adjusting well!

  • Katya June 16, 2012, 10:32 am

    Ooh, can’t wait to read part 2!!! Loving your story so far!!

  • Rebecca Li June 16, 2012, 10:37 am

    Ahh! Cliffhanger! 🙂 Henry is such a beautiful name. I can’t wait to see how things progress on the blog!

  • polly June 16, 2012, 10:42 am

    oh Caitlin! what a beautiful photo in that first shot! Wowwww. Love the story, cannot wait for part TWO! 🙂 XOXO

  • Megan @ the road to skinny June 16, 2012, 10:53 am

    Cant wait for part 2! I also got 2.5 hours of sleep the night before Molly was born! And I planned out the whole labor in my head the night before, I didn’t think that it would be true! Crazy how we just know what’s going to happen before it does.

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape June 16, 2012, 11:02 am

    Can’t wait to hear the rest!!!

  • Jillian @ Reshape Your Life June 16, 2012, 11:23 am

    I can’t wait for part 2!!! Birth stories are my favorite! 🙂

    The look on Kristien’s face in that picture is completely heartwarming.

  • Ali June 16, 2012, 11:53 am

    I love reading women’s birth stories – thanks for posting this! Also love the name Henry – such a great name for a little English boy! 🙂

  • Kelly June 16, 2012, 11:55 am

    Thank you for sharing this, Caitlin!! I can’t wait for part II. The first picture on this post is incredible.

  • Caroline June 16, 2012, 11:58 am

    That fist picture is absolutely priceless. What a special moment to have captured. Congratulations and Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to part II!

  • Laura Ann June 16, 2012, 12:07 pm

    Love this!!!! I am already convinced that Bradley is the way to go. I love the folding laundry, blow-drying hair part! I haven’t had a baby yet, but I totally relate to the difficulty leaving the house.. I know I’ll be the EXACT same way.

  • Peach June 16, 2012, 12:09 pm

    That first picture is so precious, almost brought a tear to my eye…there’s nothing like parents seeing their child for the first time. Can’t wait for part 2!

  • Ashley June 16, 2012, 12:15 pm

    That first picture brings tears to my eyes each time I look at it! It might have a wee bit to do with the 29 week pregnant hormones floating around my body, but still….so sweet!! Can’t wait to read the rest. Congratulations!

  • Alison Finstad June 16, 2012, 12:26 pm

    You are so smart and educated about this process! I’m going to take some tips from you when we have #2. Can’t wait for Part II! Congratulations!

  • Logan June 16, 2012, 12:46 pm

    I love all your baby related posts. You have been so honest and open and since I am hoping to get pregnant soon, I really appeciate you sharing everything. Best wishes to you! Also, my husband has been fascinated with placentas for as long as I have known him, I have no idea why, but he loved your post on the encapsulation. I am very interested in hearing about how you think it helps in your recovery.

  • Nicole June 16, 2012, 12:53 pm

    Damn these birth stories–I’m already in tears and I know how things went down! 🙂

  • Angela June 16, 2012, 12:57 pm

    Thank you for sharing, can’t wait to read part 2!

  • Claire June 16, 2012, 1:04 pm

    I can’t wait for part two! I’m glad Henry came into the world safe and sound.

  • jen June 16, 2012, 1:07 pm

    i heart u for posting already!!! you are SUCH an amaze blogger xoxoxoxox

  • Sana June 16, 2012, 1:33 pm

    I am tearing up looking at your husband’s facial expression in the first picture. SO MUCH EMOTION.

  • Amanda June 16, 2012, 1:36 pm

    Cliffhanger! Although, I suppose we already know how it ends – more or less. 🙂

  • Annette@FitnessPerks June 16, 2012, 1:38 pm

    Oh wow!! SO exciting. ANd suspenseful!! You look really happy before leaving the house-actually. I love it!

  • Sara June 16, 2012, 2:32 pm

    What a neat way to tell the birth story. I love how you stalled leaving the house, but more so love how calm you were about everything. I was mostly calm because I knew I was having a c-section; I am not built for natural birth. I think being prepared, and getting as much information as you can before this helps cut down on the anxiety. Of course it does not leave you immune from the unexpected, but it frees you up to handle the unplanned.

    I cannot wait to hear the rest! Henry is so adorable!!

  • Amber K June 16, 2012, 2:50 pm

    Awww, can’t wait for part two!

  • meagan June 16, 2012, 3:22 pm

    Car contractions are the WORST. You have my sympathies that you had to go through that!

  • Julia H. @ Going Gulia June 16, 2012, 3:34 pm

    I love how this is so different from how TV/movies always portray pregnancy. On the big screen, it’s always “OH, MY WATER BROKE! RUSH TO THE HOSPITAL! GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME! WHERE’S MY HUSBAND??!!” But your experience sounds so much more laidback (which sounds great!). Time to blowdry your hair? WInning.

  • Kath June 16, 2012, 3:34 pm

    What an awesome first photo!!

  • Ash Bear June 16, 2012, 3:36 pm

    I have really enjoyed reading this journey the entire time and can’t wait to read part 2! Congratulations!

  • Pam June 16, 2012, 3:55 pm

    Wow you handled everything so well after your water broke, I would have wanted to rush to the hospital. It’s great to learn how others handle labor. I am getting major baby fever reading all of your posts 🙂
    Can’t wait to read Part II, very exciting!!

  • Kate @ Cupcake Runner June 16, 2012, 3:57 pm

    That first photo is so sweet and a what a great moment to have captured forever.

  • Stephanie @ Legally Blinde June 16, 2012, 4:20 pm

    Loved reading this – can’t wait for part 2!

  • Lauren June 16, 2012, 4:32 pm

    Kristien’s face in the first picture is precious 🙂

  • allpointswhole June 16, 2012, 5:34 pm

    Oh my goodness…I can’t believe you did all that after your water broke!!

  • jen June 16, 2012, 5:34 pm

    aaaahhhh…can’t wait for part 2!

  • Jen June 16, 2012, 5:40 pm

    I just have to say, that first picture of the three of you is the sweetest thing ever. Congratulations again!

  • AmandaRunsNY June 16, 2012, 6:00 pm

    I love that you are sharing your birth story and all these pics…one day you are going to be so happy that you have all these memories memorialized on your blog.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) June 16, 2012, 6:06 pm

    Oooooooh, I want to hear the rest!!!!

  • Nadine June 16, 2012, 6:08 pm

    There is SO much expression in your husbands face. This picture is PRICELESS. Congratulations on your new family 🙂

  • Natalie @fitjamericangirl June 16, 2012, 6:09 pm

    This is so precious. I can’t wait to hear more. 🙂

  • Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy June 16, 2012, 6:18 pm

    Now I want to hear the rest of the story :)!!

  • Brenda June 16, 2012, 8:25 pm

    The look on the Krisien’s face is priceless. It exudes love and awe. What a beautiful moment!

  • Lexi @ You, Me, & A World to See June 16, 2012, 11:12 pm

    I was scrolling down the page and literally said “Nooooooooooooooooooooooo” out loud, when I realized that you were going to leave us all hanging 😉

  • Sonia the mexigarian June 16, 2012, 11:15 pm

    The photo is unbelievably so heart warming. The look on both of your faces is just pure love. Amazing. I look forward to reading more, but thank you for sharing this with us thus far.

  • Reenie June 16, 2012, 11:26 pm

    Am I the only one crying reading this??? I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story…..

    You look so much like your Mom in the pics posted in the previous post. You look beautiful holding lil Henry xo

  • mary @ what's cookin with mary June 16, 2012, 11:56 pm

    This was such a beautiful post Caitlin. Congratulations !!!

  • alicia June 17, 2012, 4:41 pm

    Wonderful! I can’t wait for more.

  • Swapna June 17, 2012, 8:33 pm

    Congrats!! I can’t wait to read Part II…

  • Diana @ frontyardfoodie June 18, 2012, 9:13 am

    I always wanted a dramatic water break to start labor! Well, I thought that’s what I wanted but mine came during transition…and my contractions majorly intensified afterwards so maybe having it break at the beginning would my labors harder.

  • FSC June 18, 2012, 5:45 pm

    The first picture says it all. What a beautiful family. The look of wonder and joy on both of your faces. Priceless.

  • Jen F June 19, 2012, 11:37 am

    Congrats on the birth of Henry! Thank you for sharing so much of your personal story.

    The first family photo is wonderful! The look on Kristien’s face is simply priceless and so special.

  • Tracy @ Commit to Fit June 30, 2012, 6:17 pm

    I am so behind in my blog walking. Congratulations! Henry is just perfect.

  • Keri September 7, 2013, 12:50 pm

    I am so so glad to have stumbled upon this birth story. I am currently 22 weeks, GBS positive (my OB tested WAAAY early & we switched to a midwife), and we start our Bradley classes next week! So many similar parallels, and comforting to see it all turn out well with another family. Thank you for sharing!

  • Trendy Tummy Maternity October 15, 2013, 8:18 am

    Very cute birth story! Congratulations on a very successful child birth! I was looking at your pictures during your development and it looks great, you look so pretty in all the pictures. Looking forward to more posts related to your baby 🙂

  • Nikki June 15, 2014, 9:24 am

    How many days early did you end up giving birth from your original due date? I am 37 1/2 weeks along and have been following your blog for years but am going back and rereading things.

    • Caitlin June 15, 2014, 2:47 pm

      I gave birth the day before my due date!

Previous post:

Next post:

Healthy Tipping Point