The New Addition

Claire Noel Barney

Last Sunday, our little Claire was born, and what an experience it was! We had chosen to do a home birth, but kept it on the down low for many reasons. What a great decision it was. It was the perfect birthing experience for me and Rhett.

Sunday morning, at about 8:30, I woke up--tossing and turning. There was so much pressure going on that I thought maybe a bath would help relieve some of the gravitational pull on my belly. While in the bathtub, I had quite a large contraction, and realized the water was not helping at all. I also knew that I really wasn't going to make it through the day being this uncomfortable, so I decided to ask Rhett for a blessing. Rhett had camped out on the couch in the night because I was rolling all over the bed so much. I woke him up, and he gave me a blessing, which helped me relax a bit, but also sent me into some consistent contractions every 5-8 minutes. Rhett would record every time I stopped what I was doing to brace myself for the contraction. After about eighteen contractions in one hour, we called Margaret, the midwife and notified her of my status. She asked if I was ready for her to come, but I didn't want her to arrive and then sit around for hours and hours waiting to deliver the baby. So I told her I would call back when I felt like I needed her there.

In between contractions, I was giving Rhett orders--"We need to prepare the bed! We didn't make any ice packs!" etc. Poor guy was running around trying to get Summer ready for church, trying to tidy up the place, and trying to get everything prepared for me to give birth. (We were to put down clean sheets on our bed, then a shower curtain to protect the clean sheets, then another set of clean sheets on top, so I wouldn't be just laying on a shower curtain.) And checking and recording the time every three minutes I had a contraction. He was great.

At 10:20, we called Rachel Green and Heather Harris--hoping to get a hold of someone to watch Summer for us. The contractions were so intense now that they brought me to my knees every time, and Summer was beginning to worry about me. Heather was at choir practice, but Rachel was available, so she came and picked Summer up. Rhett had her all ready for church, with the diaper bag packed and a handful of snacks to keep her occupied throughout the day.

At 10:30ish, I called Margaret and she headed on her way over. Once again, every contraction was bringing me to my knees, but I found that if I knelt next to the couch, propping my elbows on the cushions, swaying my hips back and forth, it would help ease the pain. And then, since I was in the praying position, I would offer up a few prayers while I was at it. It was perfect. :)

Rhett was great, and by the time Margaret arrived, everything was almost ready, and I moved onto the bed in my hands and knees position to sway through the rest of the contractions. I held Rhett's hand through it all, which really helped me.

At 11:45, Margaret's assistant arrived, and only about twenty minutes later, the contractions subsided and I felt the baby moving through me to make her way out. It was amazing. There was a lot of pressure, but no more intense contractions. Her head crowned quite a few times, just to help stretch the skin out before she finally got her head through. At that point, I knelt upward and she slid right out. Rhett caught her and brought her up to me, and I just held her in my arms on the bed. There she was, in my arms, and I felt great! I couldn't believe how well I felt. I held her for a few more minutes, and then I cut the umbilical cord. (Is that cool or what?) The assistant cleaned everything up while Margaret checked the baby's health. Her hands and feet were a little purple, so to make sure she was getting enough oxygen, we put an oxygen tube up by her face. Claire held on to the tube, even though she didn't like it blowing in her face, and we thought it was cute so we took a picture.

Here's dad with Claire.

I tore just a little bit, but Margaret stitched me right up (which was more uncomfortable than giving birth!). And I've healed just fine.

The Green's brought Summer home to us at about 6 o'clock that night. Boy were we excited to see her reaction. She crawled up onto the bed next to me and just smiled at everyone with such delight and excitement in her eyes.

And ever since then, she can't get enough of Claire. She gives her multiple kisses a day, and the moment she wakes up in the morning or from a nap, she says, "Bebe! Bebe!" until she gets to see Claire. A few days ago, Rhett and Summer ran to Walmart, and Rhett said she was saying, "Bebe!" all the way home. She's already tried sharing some Gatorade with Claire, stuck her baby bottle up Claire's nose, put a tissue in Claire's ear to clean it out, and pushed her in her baby doll stroller. We're thinking Claire is going to grow up being one tough cookie!




Claire and Summer's feet.
One of the best parts about the home birth was getting to sleep in my own bed that night, with Rhett next to me. He has been such a great help all week--helping keep Summer entertained, keeping us fed, and changing Claire's diapers for me. He is such a great dad and husband. Us girls are lucky to have him. My mom has also been a huge help--flying in Sunday night to spend the week with us. Mostly she has taken on the Summer-challenge of keeping her entertained while I rest up and Rhett takes care of me. I don't know how we would have done it without her being patient enought to watch Air Buddies a million times with Summer. She has been great. Thank you!