Benjamin Paul Ghiringhelli was water-birthed at 11:48 pm Friday, July 17, in a small quaint Victorian home birthing center in Sanford, Fla. He was 7 lbs even, healthy, ADORABLE, and nursed for at least two hours after being pulled from the water and placed on Jen's breast. Amazingly, Jennifer felt great once he was born, and was well enough for me to take her and Benjamin home at 330 am Saturday!!
Many reading this followed our exciting news on Facebook -- from when Jen's water broke at 6:40 am on Friday until he was born nearly 18 hours later. I really want to thank all of you for showing us so much love and attention (via Facebook). It was such a great morale booster. It was so wild to hear how excited and interested you all were that Friday and into the early morning hours Saturday.
My last update on Facebook was around 6 pm, when Jen was dilated 5 cm, and the contractions really began to pick up. It was an incredibly bonding experience between Jen and I to be all alone, all night long (besides our sweet midwife, Kaleen Richards), in this tiny two-story home on 13th and Park Ave. I think it even began raining outside that evening, just like Jennifer had hoped.
A night of incredible pain . .. indescribable joy....
For me, it did not take long to come to the realization that Friday night that if I did not at one point fully "own" this intimate experience with my wife and forsake the idea of taking her to the hospital 5 minutes down the road, it would be an even longer night of pain. I had been "on board" until that point, but I had to actually help navigate the ship now, and almost consider Jen's writhing as that of my own.
I screamed, groaned and even allowed my body to "push" ... many times just crying and praying in her ear as I held her from behind and her whole body shivered as if from a dangerous fever. The midwife acted only in a way of support, but never to tell Jen or I what to do, or issue orders.
Jen did not even take as much as a Tylenol!
I watched my wife, a picture of primal beauty and strength, who over and over again let her instincts take over, striving every millisecond to stay within each moment, listening and anticipating, and allowing her body to breathe Benjamin out. An aura of pure excruciation surrounded the tub as midnight approached and her body opened to 10 cm.
The last final push was the loudest I ever heard a woman scream. Kaleen placed Benjamin on her chest so quickly that at first I wondered: "What's that!!"
I'll never for the rest of my life forget that moment. In a flash pure and total joy fell on both of us. We cried, squeezed our precious baby, caressed each other, and shared an intimacy that was beyond words!!
We praise God for blessing us with our special and sweet baby Benjamin!!
3 comments:
Your writing is a gift Steve- as if we didn't already know that :) I had gotten so used to reading articles of yours which were well written but also as objective and fact-focused as possible of course. To read your heart, your emotions, your personal expereince is a whole other story. You had me in tears reading of Benjamin's arrival into the world and the bond you and Jen shared during the whole process.
Just beautiful!
Steve and Jen -
This is truly a remarkable summary of "the big day" and helps me to recall the events of the day. Steve - ypu really have a gift and skill that helps us all to feel your pain and your joy in the expereince - and I am richer for it.
Now - two weeks later - Jen has just slept through the night for the first time since Benjamin's birth. It all feels like the beginning of a long and exciting journey for all of us that love you and Benjamin Paul.
I encourage you to continue to capture the moments . . . as you did in this Blog entry.
Love you guys!
Grandpa Dave
Thanks for the encouragement guys.
I know you know this, but you have such an amazing daughter Dave. With all of that pain, though she was so strong that night it broke my heart again and again to have to see it.
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