Leanna is now 1 week old. Yesterday, her umbilical cord fell off. Here is a picture taken after I came home from work.

She loves her daddy.

Here is a short video.

 

Labor album                           Leanna album

All is well at the Pierce household. Verity is getting some much needed rest. I'll post more pictures to our album later. Maybe a video or two as well.
Here is a quick summary of the labor timeline. Verity is much better at telling details than I, so you have to also hear her side of the feeling and experience and other happenings during this amazing time.

Tuesday, May 12th
- Mucus plug came out

Wednesday, May 13th
- 6:40am .Water broke. It was clear and almost odorless. Soaked Verity's pj's.
- 8am. First contraction. Small and not very intense.
Contractions continued one about every 30 minutes and lasted about 1 min each.
- 2:30pm. Kept scheduled appointment at birthing center. Contractions now about 20 min apart. Blood pressure 114/70, Baby's heart rate 135-140. Placed on a monitor for about 30 min to check baby movements. Everything looks good.
- 4pm. Contractions now about 10 - 15 minutes apart.
- 5:30pm took some castro oil (need to move those bowels).
- 6pm. Things are really moving now. Contractions every 10 minutes and bowels defiantly moving. Very uncomfortable combination.
- 7:15pm. Contractions slowed slightly. Took some labor tincture to keep the progression going.
- 8:20pm. Called birthing center to let them know we were almost ready. They told us to call back after contractions are consistently 3-5 minutes about for an hour.
- 9:30pm. Called again and they told us to come right in.
- 10:00pm . Arrive at birthing center and found that the room we wanted had just been used and they are still cleaning it. We had to use our backup room choice and so they rearranged the furniture to bring in the birth pool. Measured 7cm and full effaced.
- 10:45. Got in the pool and felt much better.
- 11:30ish. Measured 8cm and still at stage 0.

Thursday, May 14th
- 12:05am. Measured 10cm and ready to push.
- 12:30am. After just 25 minutes of pushing, Leanna Lily Pierce was born into the waiting arms of mommy. 7 lbs, 4.5 oz and 20.5 inches.
- 7:30am. All paperwork was complete and we went home.

The midwife, Megan, and nurse, Kimber, at Special Beginnings were fantastic. While Verity was laboring in the pool, two more people came in to give birth and all three rooms were filled. They had to stay on their toes and take care of all three women. We were extremely fortunate to have our doula, Courtnee, with us to help. The midwife and nurse were also very appreciative for her assistance.

The 2:30 appointment went well. Blood pressure was 114/70, Leanna's heart rate 135-140. Contractions are every 15-20 minutes and are more intense. We just had some chicken, but Verity had trouble getting it all down, so she supplemented with a fruit cup. Things are progressing and we hope to go back to the birthing center later tonight. Right now, we are just chillin with our duala and listening to Bob Marley.

The contractions started at about 9am. One every 30 min or so and last a little under a minute.

We had an appoinment scheduled for 2:30 today at the birthing center and they said to just come in at that time and get checked over. If things progress sooner, then we will go in sooner.

Verity is resting now, getting ready for the big push.

Oh, and we are dabbling with a webcam on this site (not for the labor). On the right you will see a block titled "webcam testing area". There is a camera that you click on and you have to manually refresh(F5) to get a new image. I am working on adding a live streaming camera. It won't be on all the time, but we will try to get the baby on camera for you all to see. And if you call us on the phone and are near a computer, we can turn the camera on so you can see live. Maybe we will schedule a showing in the next couple days.