Naomi's Birth

Katie began early labor around 5:30 pm on Friday, December 11 (2 days after her due date). These contractions were significantly stronger and more regular than the Braxton Hicks contractions she'd been having for months, but they were also mild enough that she was able to sleep for a few hours through the night to rest up for the work ahead.

Her water broke at 4 am the next morning (Saturday, December 12), and active labor began (ouch). Soon after that, we called our friend Emily, who is training to be a doula and had agreed to support Katie in labor. Katie labored for about 5 hours at home, and we headed for the hospital around 9 am. Katie checked in at 7cm dilated, but unfortunately plateaued here for several more hours. Finally at 4 pm, she had reached 9.5cm and was able to start pushing.

At 6:36 pm on Saturday, December 12, our precious little Naomi Julian made her way into the world.

This photo was taken around 5 am, about an hour after Katie's water had broken and active labor had begun. She leaned on this swiss ball some of the time. You can also see the bowl for nausea, and Daniel's iPod Touch, which we used to time the contractions.

(Finally!) on the way to the hospital, 5 hours later. You can see the rain on the windshield - that day held one of the biggest storms Orange County had seen in a long time.

Around 2 pm, Katie was put on oxygen because the baby's heart rate was decelerating significantly during contractions and not recovering well.

Daniel applying counterpressure on Katie's hips, to try and alleviate the pain in her lower back - this was one of the most difficult parts about Katie's labor.

Katie also tried supporting her upper body over this bar that popped out on the bed, while letting gravity help the baby drop.Note: The next 6 photos are a little bloody. If you would prefer to skip them, click here.

Welcome to the world, Naomi Julian!In this photo, you can also see two other interesting things. One is the position of Naomi's arms - we noticed in her ultrasounds (and notice all the time now that she's out of the womb) that one of her favorite positions is having her hands up by her face. It seems that she held this position all the way through the birth canal as well! She came out with her arms folded across her chest, rather than down by her sides like most babies. This meant she got caught in the birth canal, and it's part of the reason they had to use a vacuum to assist in her delivery.Second, you can see the cable for the internal fetal monitor running from Naomi's head to Katie's thigh. They had to monitor her more closely in later labor, because of the heart decelerations.

Being given to Mama. (You can see the umbilical cord wrapped around her leg and one of her arms. They think this was what was causing the heart rate decelerations.)

Cutting the umbilical cord. Unfortunately this had to be done in a hurry because she was a high-risk delivery, and the NICU staff needed to check her out (they were called in because of her decelerating heart rate).

Hearing her cry for the first time - what a joyful sound!

Emily was such a blessing to have as a companion through all of that!

Putting faces with those familiar voices for the first time.

Our strong little girl figured out how to use her lungs right away!

Katie and Hilary, the midwife who not only supervised Katie's entire pregnancy, but was actually there to deliver Naomi! This was a surprising blessing because there are dozens of MD's and midwives who rotate in at the hospital, and it is not all that common for the person who saw you through your pregnancy to actually deliver your baby.

Meeting the rest of the family - two very excited Grandmas.

All the ladies: Grandma Gayle, Aunt Meghan, Nana Takahashi, Aunt Erica, Grandma Peckham & Auntie Jess.

With Nana & Papa and Aunt Meghan & Uncle Josh.

Three generations of girls - Nana, Mommy & Naomi.

Only missing Uncle Andy, who flew in 10 days later.

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Recent photo comments

Back story: When Katie was born, there is a random photo of her dad holding up her placenta. (Don't worry: when other people see it, they are grossed out as much as you are.) So when Naomi was born, and the family came in the delivery room to meet her, and Erica & Dad discovered someone had randomly shoved the placenta behind the door... they just had to repeat history.

SherTakahashi: My comment to Grandpa Grider was they forgot to put it away.

Emily: Oh wow - I bet someone was in trouble when they found it later! Those things are "medical waste"! :)

Katie: With the curtain there, it looks like this is the remains of the last patient :)

Katie: Side note: In the original placenta pic, Dad is holding up the placenta in his bare hands, so this one's a bit tamer... ;)

Kevin Matsumoto: Looks like steak marinating in Teriakki sauce....LOL

Katie: Still don't have a decent family pic, after almost 4 months...

Katie: I'm so glad Erica was there through the labor too! Even with a 9-month-old of her own, she drove all the way up to LA and cheered me on through the tough part. (And then stayed around afterwards to help us figure out breastfeeding! Sure is great to have a postpartum nurse for a sister...) Love you E!

SherTakahashi: Thank you Hilary...God bless you.

Emily: She was one cool midwife. I'm referring any Kaiser patients I know to her.

Melissa Sturgeon: Congrats and wow you are lucky! I ended up with 2 midwives I had never met who delivered Caden because they were changing shifts just as I was 10cm and ready to push. But it turned out just fine. They didn't do much anyways. Andrew and I did all the work until the 20 minutes of pushing at the very end and the stitching part.

Katie: Melissa - I'm glad it turned out ok. I had a nurse shift change right as I began pushing, but it ended up being huge that I was able to have Hilary there the whole time, as her discernment in the delivery was crucial (and saved me from having a c-section!)

Kaiser has this special button that you may push after your baby is born, and it plays a lullaby over the loudspeakers of the entire hospital. This is special for new parents, but also for other sick patients - when they hear it, they can know that a new little life just entered the world.

Andria Guerrero: That must be a really sweet sound to patients who are ill, great idea.

Julie DeHart: That's a great idea. Love the respect of life they are showing. :)

Kristi: That's sweet.

Melissa Sturgeon: Cool! Our Kaiser didn't have that.

SherTakahashi: I love the look on Hilary's face - she's so serene.

Kristi: Our baby girl has had her arms up and hands around her face at each u/s too! Does she continue to do it now?

Daniel: Yes, it's still one of her favorite positions. :)

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