Julia's Physical assessment

 This will be my final post.  

Julia has flakey feet, long body 20.5 inches, fully relaxed ankles and is small for her age. 

This all points to post dates, as anticipated. 

She has hair, intense eyes and an eager and capable suck is just plain sweet. 

As a member of the Melcher side of the family, she is smallest yet.

Also the longest gestation of any Melcher family baby. 

She weighed in at ....Drum roll... 7 pounds 4 ounces!! Wow, newborn clothes will fit, newborn diapers will fit!! Very exciting.  We have all had greater than 8 pounds, I believe. I'll get the corrections tomorrow. 

Anyway, she is a cute as a bug, vigorous cry and there just isn't anything like being at a birth to make your year, unless it is two births!! We are off to Sacramento to witness another miracle. 

Where is a photo?  We have taken 10,000 photos, but I can't seem to get any to upload.  Take a look at Facebook or Instagram I'm sure there will be 100's there soon. 

Sorry, I am signing off. 

A great birth, A great day. And a great birthday!!

Tucked in at 3:30 pm

 What a wild last minutes. I will go back and correct/fill in some of the empty spaces, but just wanted to say that from the minute Diana Johnson and Craig's family walked in, Natlie propelled that baby out like a torpedo. The water broke, and she screamed, and Kylie jumped in the water, caught the baby and that was it. 

Baby was a bit depressed at the first, but rallied well with just simulation and a bit of puffing from Natalie. 

Nat and baby were tucked in for a bit of food and a nap around 3:30, so we came home. Sorry that the blog didn't update as fast as I would have hoped. 

First moments.

 Karen is helping wrap the baby and Kylie is finding her place as "baby holder"  it is beautiful. Placenta is coming. 

3:18 Kylie is holding Julia for the first time

 As Natalie delivers the placenta, Kylie tries her skills at comforting the new little one. 

It is so nice. She will be the best big sister. Baby Julia already can feel the love of her big sister. 

3:16 Cooper cut the chord

 In the spirit of the "family birth" Cooper jumped in and cut the cord in one cut. 

The Johnson's walked in and Julia arrived!!

 One contraction and the bag broke and baby came in a flush of fluid. And Julia was here. 

She needed a bit of support, a few puffs from Natalie and a bit of rubbing, but she now she is pink and just a bit raspy. That fluid will absorb into her lungs in a few hours. 

What a wonderful relief and so quick at the end. Natalie is such a champ and just guided that baby out. 

Baby seems tiny, but won't be weighed until everything is settled. 

Covered in meconium.

 Big head and little body, but soooooo cute.  

Suctioning, but  her color is good,  lots of hair

A few puffs of air to improve her color

Took a bit of encouragement.

  Julia was a bit reluctant to give up her warm and secure spot inside Natalie. She needed some rubbing and encouragement before she let out  a lusty cry,  now she is doing great.

2:45 She is here!!!!

 Dianna and the Jonsons arrived at 2:40 and one contraction and the water broke and she is here. Meconium and all. A bit blue at the beginning. Ky jumped into the tub and that was it, she was here. 

2:45 contraction

 First contraction with Diana in the room, lots of sound (screaming) coming out of Natalie!!!

We are having a baby! The water broke. Natlie yelled, Kylie jump in and catch her! The water broke she is coming! 

Diana just arrived

 No doubt they all jumped in the car and drove like mad from Porterville. 

This was the big advantage of Saturday morning. 

So happy the Johnson's made it. 

2:40 contractions Sorry about the caps, just an accident

Just quietly waiting.  Nat seems to be sleeping between contractions. Ky is rubbing her eyes and Sheridan is leaning agains the tub with her eyes closed. 

Maybe we imagined this would be faster than it is. 

How could wi think that, this is Julia, the master of slow. 

2:35 Back in the water, back in the zone

 Baby's heart rate is 120-130 perfect. It seems like a long time, but this is birth, no way to hurry or make it happen. 

2:30 contractions: Discussing standing, rotating hips and moving

 Some problem solving happening. Nat has tried 3 different positions with contractions. 2:30 contraction standing. 

"Let her come, let her come, let her come". 

2:27 contraction standng.

 "Come on, come on". A short one, 35 seconds. 

Standing and peeing.

 Baby seems higher when she stands up. 

2:24 Contractoin

 Kylie is putting her cool hands on Nat's face, Sheridan and Craig are holding her hands. she wants to work the baby down if she can. She is prone again in the tub. 

Length 1:19 sec

2:20 contraction squatting in the water.

 Nat is remembering how Wes didn't move until his bag was broken. Maybe Julia will need some help eventually. Right now, Nat can feel her head with her fingers, but she isn't moving down.  

2:17 contraction on her knees

I'm putting the time signature on the posts, so you can check in every three or four contractions if you like. Or you can ride the waves with us. 

Julia's Heart rate 130 

Craig has added some warm water to the tub, Nat is feeling it and finding it so relaxing. 

Trying to shift the pressure a bit. "Come on baby...."

That one was 1 minute. 

She is feeling like she can push a bit at the end of the contraction. She said she doesn't' have the "urge" yet, but would like to help Julia move down by giving her a little push. 

2:13 contraction

The smooth and gradual increasing of the length of contraction along with the increasing space between contractions seems to be a nice pattern to preserve her energy ,while moving the baby and giving baby a chance to rotate through the 3 turns required to find the exit. 

Everything seems to be advancing as expected. No surprises so far. 

Length- 45 seconds.