How soon is "soon?" I have to go out in, uh, 33 minutes, tops. Good lord, people; you make wonderful babies, and write beautiful prose, but this is cruel-cruel I say!
Birthing centers are great. My son was born in one, back in New York. Unfortunately, there are no birthing centers at all here in LA; the medical establishment has seen fit to close them all down. We'll have our next at home.
Wow. Sounds like what's to come will be intense, but I look forward to reading it.
The birthing center in Columbia, MO is a little sketchy, but it's inspiring to read about your (especially your partner's) perseverance.
i agree- can't wait for the next installment
yes, now i'm in complete suspense. nice work 
Congrats again! I can't wait to hear the rest of the story.
That last paragraph makes my heart skip a beat.
I'm hanging on every word. And soon means, when exactly?
Typical writer, leave us hanging.
You've made it sound so calm that I am truly concerned about Part II ...
Great cliffhanger!
what a beautiful birth story (part 1)!
Ok, so I am dumb and didn't know what a "blood eagle" was.
But, EW. EW EW EW
I looked it up and then found it impossible to finish my lunch.
Other than that, great story. I can't wait to hear the rest of it.
Now I have to google "Blood Eagle". Wood- you are one strong chica.
I don't know why I thought I could read this at my work desk....chocking. back.tears.
What moves me about your story is how you and Wood are a team (just like Dutch and Juney). The thought of going through natural labor with the support of husband like Dutch, is incredible.
I'm so glad we know that the story ends happy and healthy. All of the Internet wishes you the best.
Stacy - Minneapolis
Wait a second! That room looks oddly familiar.... I think I had the same expression as Wood did when I was there.
Congratulations again, Gram is just beautiful, and I love the photos of Juniper with him. Makes me remember all over again, why I love my little brother.
I myself am 34 weeks pregnant and devouring birth stories along with many, many, many snacks. I loved Juniper's birth story, which I now need to read again, and I can't wait for the second part of Gram's. Thank you, so so so so much, for sharing.
i'm loving the shot of you all out walking with gram tucked up snug as a bug in a rug in your jacket, wood. so awesome. hope your engorgement has eased up.
i asked about birthing center as an option- i didn't dislike pnuts birth but i thought a more mellow experience this time around would be even better. apparently not an option for "borderline high risk" pregnancies. oh well. might as well enjoy the epidural, i guess.
can't wait to hear the rest and am glad that at least we know all are safe and sound ahead of time!!
don't do it, Kim!
I called that walk the death march. I showed up at the hospital in a lot of pain and only 2 cm dilated. I walked around the hospital for 2 hours, stopping like Wood and getting my backed rubbed by my husband with every contraction. Good work getting to the 4 cm! Can't wait for the rest...
You can't leave it at 4cm dilated, I want to hear the rest of the story!! Beautifully written by the way, and very moving. Can't wait for the next instalment either!
noooooooo you sit back down at that computer matey and finish your story!
i need you to have more kids because i love reading your birth stories!
p.s. that picture of wood is amazing!
way to get me to the edge of my seat.
You write beautifully Dutch. I read your posts and think...if only I...
And go Wood! What a warrior.
great! i have the baby blues now.
To quote Juniper: "I've been waiting for this for a long, long time."
Can't wait for part two: electric bugaloo.
hanging over here in new york. more please!
those hallways were way too short, btw
I have the shivers after reading this - you would write a novel smashingly, Dutch. I am hanging on, waiting - so knowing it, whatever it was, was all worth it...but I must hear the second part!!! Hope all are well and life with two is falling into step...
I can't wait to read the rest although you've mentioned before that he didn't breathe right away, so it is nice to see the pictures of all of you home and, well, breathing just fine. And 4 centimeters to delivery in an hour? Wood, you are impressively awesome (as usual). How many days/weeks late was Gram?
Its a Dickensian serial!! Right down to the London-esque weather and stern midwife... Im avidly awaiting the next installment!
Congratulations on Gram! And on two natural births, I think. 
I am glad that the end of your story is wonderful, but I am DYING!!! Please finish by nap time tomorrow!!
Waiting... on pins and needles!
Congratulations again -- on your beautiful and healthy baby boy. He was well worth the wait I suppose.
I might sense some resonance...? -- sort of wrote some tangents up, or were they intersections?, to offer my trademark over familiarity.
http://motherwoman.blogspot.com/...iting-
room.html
In a timely fashion I might add.
Come back!! More birth story, please!
(and Wood, I know you have other things to do these days ... but it was wonderful hearing your voice and Dutch's intertwined in Juniper's birth story. I hope you will have a chance to share your perspective as well when opportunity presents).
your family, and it's tales, are the stuff i find to be so amazing these days. As my marriage crumbled before me this past year, all I could think about was how bad I wanted this picture of a family. It was bigger than just one photo...but it was intricate, and tediously created over time. I imagined it all, the wife, the kid, the house...of which to a degree I already had. But as I grew to understand all that I didn't have, and what was ailing and wrong, I harbored this secret desire for the "stable family" more and more.
You guys have something truly beautiful. Hard as it may (and probably is) be at time, it seems absolutely wonderful.
cheers.
when my husband tells our two oldest boys (one home-birthed, one home-laboured) the stories of the days they were born, he traces those steps we paced together, hour after hour after hour. life doesn't offer up many occasions for a woman to literally have to lean on her partner like that. it's a tender procession down a different aisle.
Anxious to hear the rest of the story...
What a cliff-hanger, no fair! Come back, come back, come back!!!
I have to say this is most well-written birth story I've ever seen. You certainly have an amazing gift for storytelling, Dutch.
Waiting for part II with bated (baited?) breath...
I love that picture of Wood... beautiful and concentrating... you can hear the "phoof" of breath off her lip. eagerly anticipating part deux-
Melissa, you were so right- I did not need to know about the blood eagle! Dutch, you are going to give me nightmares!
Jim, you are such a wonderful writer. I could read books of this. I'm not kidding. Adult books, not children's books. You have serious talent.
And I cannot wait to hear the rest.
I'm so glad I already know the ending or I'd be so pissed at you right now. Soon better mean tomorrow or I may not get to read it for a whole week! WAH! (Going on vacation. I know you feel so bad for me.)
I loved the pix of Juniper holding him, big sisters are the best. Has she been nursing her babies yet? My fav pix are the ones of my oldest "pumping" herself. Hope you guys are getting lots of sleep.
Amazing how looking at your beautiful little newborn erases the hours and hours of pain, blood, poking, prodding, and invasiveness. I'll be checking back for Part Deux.
And, I really like Wood's bangs. In a jealous way.
Does your wife like to read fiction?
I suggest "The Red Tent" -- not sure what made me think of this now. Something about Wood as warrior.
Anyway, I echo everyone else's sentiment that you're such a talented writer. And, b/c I haven't said it yet, blessings to you and your growing family. Have you looked into Kindermusik classes for you and Juniper? They seem like they'd be right up your alley (altho some sessions are better than others). It would be a good chance for you to have some one-on-one time with Juney. I imagine the hipster parents there might annoy you though.
part two part two part twoooooooooo!!
The waiting - I snuck out of a warm bed for a potential update. Good though, that we are not your priority.
So thankful that you included photos of the healthy end - or else I would be a mess.
Blessings and rest upon your growing family.
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