Jackson's Birth

Jackson's birth was a truly incredible experience, as we chose to do it at home. Don't get me wrong, I love the story of Lincoln's birth - its precious, but there is something about the second one, actually knowing what to expect in the labor/birthing process that makes it so different.
We didn't tell very many people that we were birthing at home because honestly I didn't want to have to deal with all the looks, possible nay sayers, etc... So we decided that, Lord willing, that everyone could find out once we had the successful birth at home.
Contractions started sometime around 7:30am on Sunday, March 28th. I had been struggling the last few days, trying to make a decision if I was going to take a castor oil drink to help induce labor and had decided if he didn't come by Sunday I would take the drink. Thankfully I didn't have to do anything! I was scheduled to meet my bestie Becki Rodin, from Ontario, for breakfast, as she was in town visiting family. We were supposed to meet around 8:30am, so she texted me just before 8am to make sure we were still on, and I told her I was having contractions. As I sat there trying to decide if I could fit in a quick breakfast before the baby would come, I realized that would be pretty stupid, so I had to cancel. I woke Stephen up shortly after, and told him I was having contractions. "For real?" was his response. "Yup" - I haven't seen him move so quickly out of bed in a long time! We got Lincoln dressed, called my midwife and my mom. Packed Lincoln's bag, and my mom and brother Chris and sister in law Corissa came over. Chris and Corissa had just arrived in town the night before from Africa where they had spent the month! They took Lincoln back to my parent's. My midwife arrived shortly after about 8:30 or 9, I was in the tub, just relaxing, as the contractions weren't too bad then.
The labor was so incredible, I was in this very controlled state of mind, so in tune with my body. I felt so comfortable being in my own home, it definitely contributed to the amazing labor that i had. Around 9:30 we all had some toast for breakfast, and I showed Becki (our midwife) our house a little bit. At this point I had to stop whatever I was doing whenever a contraction hit. I went back into the tub for a little bit, then Beckie told me that I could either stay in the tub and rest and keep things where they were at or I could get out, do the stairs a few times and that would probably take my labor to the next stage. Well, I am not one to put off meeting my 2nd born child, so out of the tub I got and I did the stairs a few times. Around 10am Beckie checked me and I was 7cm dilated. She called her back up midwife, we knew it wouldn't be long. Shortly after that my contractions really started to progress. At about 10:50 I had my first "screaming, would do anything to get out of my own body" contraction while in the bathroom. The second midwife arrived just as it was happening. I knew that I had to get to my room, where they were set up to birth the baby, quickly before the next one hit. I made it just in time, as the second contraction hit, and I ended up on the floor. At this point i could feel Jacksons coming. I was not on the bed, dignified as I had imagined, but instead on the floor, gripping my bed saying, "I need help, I need help!" My midwife was there coaching me "Keep your voice low Cher, nice low moans" and then right after my third contraction "I have to push!!!". I have 3 hard, fast pushes, one right after the other and out he came, born at 11:02am on the floor of our bedroom. My mom came upstairs just in time to see him come, he came so fast!
The feeling of accomplishment when that baby comes out is indescribable. After Lincoln was born I remember saying "I did it. I did it" almost in disbelief. But after Jackson I kept saying "I'm done! I'm done." So thankful that the laboring was over.
Once he was born they put him on my stomach, and I just tried to soak in the fact that we had another baby boy. I was definitely in a bit of shock, as the last part of the labor went so fast and so intense. It took a while for me to catch up to what had happened. I don't remember a lot of what happened, I know Stephen cut the cord at some point. I birthed the placenta. After they got all the medical pads cleaned up I moved onto our bed and just spent time with our son. Shortly after Chris and Corissa brought Lincoln back home, and my dad and other brother cameron arrived. They all met Jackson within the first hour of his birth! We had a family meal together. It was wonderful.
We didn't decide right away on Jackson's name, there was another name we were strongly considering. But after about a day we made it official: Jackson Philip Stephen.
Jackson means "God is gracious" - which personally has a lot of meaning to me, and my pregnancy.
Philip is the name of my grandfather, one of the most incredible men that I know. He has sown so much into our family, and I truly have an amazing heritage because of him and my grandmother, Inez.
Stephen is after Stephen - again one of the most incredible men that I know and i am luck enough to be married to him!

I was so fortunate to be able to birth at home, and will definitely be doing it with our next one - it was so amazing!