Welcome Lucia Kay Garguile

Lucia Kay Garguile's Birth Story

short and sweet:
water broke at 9:30pm
active labor started at around 1:30am
born at 3:45am
weight 7lbs, 19in long, 13.5cm head.


now if you want the full gory details:

While preparing to put Liam to bed and cleaning up his room my water broke at around 9:15 on May 30th.  I had squatted down to pick up the last toy and pop.  Nice clear fluid, of course, but we were in shock since I was only 37wks 4 days pregnant and Liam came 3 days overdue.  To say we thought we had a week or so left, at minimum, was an understatement.  I knew I should go straight to bed but the house was in disarray since I just finished tiling the backsplash 2hrs earlier and the tub needed to be filled again.  We set to work getting the house ready and settled into bed around midnight.

I had been feeling a few on and off contractions, but nothing serious.  By 1:30am things were getting more regular and uncomfortable.  Our midwife, Andrea and her assistant were about 2hrs away so I messaged her and asked her to head this way just to be safe.  SO thankful I called earlier than I thought I needed to as you'll soon see.  I was able to manage contractions in bed and try resting between them. 

Around 2am Liam started waking up, I think he heard/sensed things were happening.  Each night before bed we'd been reading him a book on homebirth so he'd know what to expect and I believe it really paid off because he seemed to understand after Dominic told him the baby was coming that things were ok.  He was back in bed soon and off to sleep until the morning. 

Just like last time, I started having diarrhea and vomiting.  Completely unpleasant but normal.  I knew things were a go and was SO thankful they were starting on their own.  One thing I'd said after Liam's birth was that I wanted to delay getting in the tub longer since I wondered if that stalled things out at the end.  It wasn't long and the bathroom toilet/floor were just not cutting it or helping me cope.  I insisted on getting in the tub.  Dominic even said, are you SURE you're ready?? and I didn't hesitate to say yes and head that way.

It made a world of difference along with the back pressure Dominic was applying during contractions.  I wouldn't say I had back labor but it just really seems to help me to have some counter pressure to the pain in the front of my pelvis.  Around 3am I had one contraction that was followed by vomiting and it felt completely pushy.  I asked Dominic to call Andrea and see how far away they were.  They were about 15min away.  At 3:17 she called from the front door, apparently the screen was locked and they couldn't get in.  At this point I didn't want him to leave me but I also wanted to get Andrea in the house....such a dilemma.  As soon as the next contraction was finished I told him to RUN and get the door and get back to me ASAP.  He listened ;) 

Pushing started with the next contraction or two and felt just as miserable as I remembered.  Throughout this last hour or so I'd been repeating to myself in my head...go over the wall, go over the wall.  I knew there was NO way out, I had to get through it so going over was the only option..  I specifically didn't read Liam's birth story because I remembered JUST how yucky it felt to push and didn't want to bring myself down before having to do it again.  Thankfully, I had the spontaneous urge to push this time.

At 3:45am Lucia Kay Garguile was born in the water with just a second between the head being out and the whole body being born.  Dominic immediately said how little the baby was compared to Liam and I felt and said, what do we have daddy??  I guess you DO make girls!!!  We hung out in the bath for about 15-20 minutes.  Eclair was right there and was insistent on getting a peak so Dominic lifted her up to smell/lick.  I really feel like having our babies at home has made a world of difference with Eclair transitioning.  She knows the children belong here, she seems to understand.  I was excited to get the placenta out and in one piece this time so I stood up, gave a little push and out it came!!!  Thank goodness for NO manual removal!!!!  We started getting cleaned up and back in bed.  She was weighed and came in at a petite 7 pounds even and is 19 inches tall.  Much different than her big brother who was 8 pounds 7 ounces and 21 inches. 

I was starving so Dominic made us some yummy waffles with fresh strawberries and whip cream. 

Around 6:30 Liam woke up and came into the bedroom to meet his little sister.  He is ENAMORED with her.  He doesn't like to leave her side and is very interested in all her parts and her hair.  Of course we're in love with her as is the entire extended family.