Monday, June 18

Welcome to the World, Little Flump!


Introducing Charlie Malcolm, born at 5.37pm on Saturday 16 June safely at home and at a healthy weight of 7lb 11oz. Labour was monitored at 13 hours.

I cannot recommend a homebirth enough for women with a good support network and a healthy pregnancy. I felt calm throughout the entire process and got through it using a TENS machine for one hour while waiting for the midwife to arrive, then by getting into my heaven-sent birth pool and going on the gas-and-air when things got more intense. I doubt the birth would have been the same had I not been in my own environment.

God bless my Bloke, my sister, my two fantastic midwives, my birth pool, the gas-and-air, and Charlie for being more than worth the whole experience (including the half an hour of late-stage contractions I got through without gas-and-air because the second canister had run out and the second midwife was still zipping round the local clinics trying to get more...).

Charlie's birthday featured a range of weather from heavy rain to bright sunshine to thunder and lightning to a shining rainbow right after he was born. It also coincided with the Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen's official birthday; while I was labouring in the pool in the afternoon there was an almighty roar outside as the Red Arrows flew over our house on their way back from the ceremonial fly-past.

20 comments:

Judy Jarvie said...

Awwwwwww Charlie is just beautiful - congratulations to you all. And what a wonderful birth story Jess. Glad you've all come through it intact.

I had the strongest, strongest feeling that you were having your baby and I'm so pleased you're through the other side. Treasure your little boy and enjoy every minute.

Judy
Two Moonlit authors. Two babies in the same week!!

Susan Rix said...

Oh my goodness, Jess - Charlie is gorgeous!!!!!

I know I've said it before but MEGA CONGRATULATIONS to both you and your Bloke!

Gray and I are thrilled to bits for you all - and I'm so relieved that you got the home birth you planned and worked so hard for.

Loads of love and hugs,
Sue :-)
xx

P.S. Congratulations to Judy too...

Nell Dixon said...

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle Styles said...

Congratulations!

I love reading birth stories.

Unknown said...

Congratulations!!! He looks beautiful!!

Biddy

Laura Hamby said...

Oooooo! I wanna hold him, cuddle him, and pepper him with wittle kisses all over his face.

Congratulations, Jess. I'm thrilled for ya'll.

~Laura

Lis said...

Awww Jess, he's so adorable!! And what a way to come into the world, with all that celebration going on :)

Congratulations to you all!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your GORGEOUS baby!

So happy for you, Bloke, and Charlie.

Anna Louise Lucia said...

What a BEAUTIFUL baby, Jessica! Congratulations to you, and kudos to all your support network and birth team!

Welcome, Baby Charlie. It's a wonderful world - you're going to love living in it.

Anonymous said...

Jess - Charlie is GORGEOUS and I am so glad your birth was such a good experience.

Many congratulations to you all - and so lovely that he arrived just in time for Father's Day.

Can't wait to meet him

Phillipa x

Unknown said...

He's gorgeous:-) Congrats to you, the bloke and Charlie!!!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely fabulous news! What a great looking baby too.

Sheila

Cindy K. Green said...

I'm so happy for you Jess. And so glad the labor and delivery went so smooth -- just as planned. Enjoy your time with baby. They grow so fast. I can't believe my little one just turned three!

Cindy

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! What a beautiful baby boy. My youngest is 15 months old now and it seems like only yesterday he was as big is your little Flump. As Cindy says - cherish this time. Lack of sleep and all! LOL

Chris Stovell said...

Read about your son's arrival on Romna. Many congratulations to all of you.

Jan Jones said...

Well done, Jess - Charlie looks adorable. Let everyone cosset you and just enjoy yourself.

Sheila said...

Many many congratukations Jess, Charlie is absolutely adorable - better start saving now for the computer games and all the latest techno stuff :-) Enjoy enjoy enjoy!
Sheila Riley

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous pic - many congratulations, Jess! So glad to hear you're both well. And the rainbow sounds very fitting, too.

Fiona Harper said...

Congratulations, Jess! Charlie is *so* cute! Both my girls went "awwwwwwwwwwwwwww" when they saw his pic on the blog.

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Huge congrats, Jessica.

He is absolutely adorable!!!