Birth Story and Pumpkin Almond Porridge

So, I am totally the person who stocks up on and hoards canned pumpkin after the holidays when it goes on clearance so I can have it during the other months. I also am typing this with one hand while holding/bouncing my 3 week old on my lap.

Oh yeah, I had my baby. Baby #2. His name is Clark and he is perfect. My entire labor was 2 hours and 38 minutes. No joke. I was "induced" at 6:15 pm and he was born at 8:53 pm. It was fast, intense, painful, but perfect.

So my appointment was at 4:30. We seriously waited for anyone to come in for over an hour.

The plan was to break my water, monitor baby for 10 minutes, walk 1 hour, monitor 10 min, pump 15 min each side, walk 1 hour, then talk about drugs if labor hasn't started. So my midwife broke my water, monitored baby, and sent me walking. My contractions were quickly 1 min+ long and 1 min apart. Really strong. I didn't walk long.

Hubby and I returned and they monitored baby while I sat on a birthing ball while the tub filled up. The entire time all I could think was, 'I am so glad I didn't get pitocin because I could NOT handle anything stronger.' My husband is the world's greatest dude-la. He rubbed my back and kept me calm, helped me keep my focus and breathing under control. He helped me into the tub, got me my meditation, and covered me in hot towels, changing them every so often without a word from me. He is amazing. I am so lucky because I could NOT do natural birth without him.

So after about 15 minutes in the tub, I needed to pee. At first I thought, 'I'll just pee in the tub.' Then I realized that that would be gross. So I asked my husband to come help me out of the tub. My nurse asked if I needed to poo or pee. I said pee. She asked if I was sure and I said yes. But as soon as I was on the toilet my body changed its mind. But we all know that feeling like you need to poo when you are in labor it means your body is getting ready to push. So they got me in bed and checked me. I was almost at an 8 and the baby was fully engaged.

Fortunately for me, I really like having babies during shift change, so I had a new midwife, the same midwife who delivered my first son, so they called her in. She came right away, and we decided that by the time we got the birthing tub filled up, the baby would be here. So no water birth. Bummer, but it is what it is. So I labored in bed, no point going back in the bathtub. My midwife pushed on my back, Derek rubbed my back and I truly thought I was going to die. And then I knew I was ready. My midwife checked and said, "Yep, let's do it."

So, it was time to push. And I thought I was going to die, again. I only pushed a few times. But man, this kid hurt so much more than kid #1. I was in labor for so long, that my body was numb. I pushed for almost 2 hours with my first. That is 2 hours of lidocaine. Not this time. I think I got one slab of the stuff this time. At one point I yelled, "I'm on fire!" No joke. I now understand what "the ring of fire" means. And just when I thought I could not do it, and was about to yell, "I can't do it," they said, "His head is here," and I said, "No it's not." And then all the sudden, he was out and on my chest and all the pain was gone.

And it is amazing how quickly you can know someone and love someone so deeply. Because the instant they gave him to me, I knew him and I loved him so much. He was/is perfect in every way. There truly aren't words adequate to describe the special moments immediately following the birth of a baby. You endure something absolutely terrible and so hard and receive the sweetest reward anyone could receive. It is beautiful. It is raw. It is real. It is overwhelming. It is spiritual.

I remember worrying and wondering, 'How can I love someone as much as I love Grant, my 3 year old?' And everyone says, "Your heart grows," or, "It just happens," and it is so true. We are crazy about this kid. It may be because he is a bomber sleeper (only wakes up ONE TIME A NIGHT! Knock on wood he keeps that up), or because I love watching how sweet Grant is with him, or his smiles, or his snuggles, or his funny squeaks and squeals, but he has us all wrapped around his fingers.

So that is that, how about we talk about food now. We had such outpouring of love and help as far as food went. My parents totally Costco'ed for us. It was amazing. We had so many meals that I was afraid all the Costco food would go bad. But nobody brought me breakfast. Rude. Just kidding. And this is a breakfast dish I consider comfort food, which is what you want when you've just had a baby and you are tired, sore, engorged, and now taking care of two kids.

Almond Pumpkin Porridge

1/4 c Almond Meal

3/4 c Almond Milk

**You can use water, but it tastes better with almond milk**

3 T Pumpkin Puree

1 tsp Chia Seeds

Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Ground Ginger, to taste

Pure Maple Syrup, to taste

1/2 Banana, sliced

Directions

1. Combine almond meal, almond milk, pumpkin, chia, and spices in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the almond meal has softened and absorbed all liquid.

2. Spoon into a bowl, sweeten with syrup to taste, and top with bananas.

3. ENJOY.

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