VIDEO: Delivering Ezekiel - Calm, Loving, Joyous and Worshipful Homebirth

So, Zeeki was one yesterday. I was watching his birth video and realised that I could cut and share a small portion of it. This was the most intense part of my labour with him.

The following is the description I've added to go with it on Youtube:

Our 5th child (first homebirth) was born in home in the water after only 34 minutes of labour from the very first contraction until when he was in my arms. (If you search for Ezekiel's 34 minute labour you'll find a slideshow that my photographer Mell Mallin put together).
This video records the last couple of minutes of labour and our family welcoming him into our lives earthside. We had candles lit and so the recording is very blurry as the camera couldn't focus in the dark conditions.
Present in the room at this point are me, my hubby, our kids, my midwife Hazel, my photographer Mell Mallin and my parents. Later my SIL arrives but I've cut this video short 'till just after Zeeki is born.
The room was so calm and peaceful with worship music playing as he entered the world. We really felt Yah (God) was with us the entire time.
You can hear me say, "He's here, he's here, I think he's almost here" just before he arrives and then calmly say, "Thank you Yah" as I reach down to bring him out of the water. I am sharing this to encourage others that birth can be calm, joyous, peaceful and loving.
That's not to say I didn't have a birth-song...I did but it was still gentle. Zeeki was born into a room filled with love and encouragement while the Word of God was being read aloud by my mum.
We praise YHVH for His goodness!

It was such a peaceful experience even though it was painful.
More another time,
Lus x

Zeeki's Birth Letter

It's a tradition that I've managed to keep up for all the kids; just after they are born I've written them a letter. I write a letter to them when they are in utero too but I thought today, on Zeeki's first birthday, I would share the letter I wrote to him a short time after he was born.

 

 

Our darling son, Ezekiel Qelevuki Austin...you are here at last!

We are so thrilled that you have come to join us little man. We praise our Awesome Creator for your precious life!

What an amazing experience your birth was son; our first homebirth!

You were welcomed into a room so filled with love, joy and shalom!

The labour itself took only 34 minutes and was incredibly intense but man was it worth it! I got to announce to everyone as you were crowning, "He's crowning" and then within less than a minute I was saying to the world, "He's here! He's here!"

Hazel, our beautiful midwife and friend said, "Lean forward and catch your baby!" and I did!!! You came from my womb straight into my arms of love my sweetheart.

Dad and the kids were all there cheering and praising Yah as you came out of the water and so were Naui and Pupu!

Naui kept saying over and over, "Praise Yah! Praise Yah!" and indeed we were all praising Him! Everything was so relaxed - beautiful worship music playing, kisses being placed gently on your forehead, candles lit, Sulley giving cuddles and Mell taking stunning photos of your first precious moments of life.

Oh darling, we can't wait to continue this journey of life with you now in our family!

May you grow to know the grace, faithfulness, love and mercy of El and the hope we have through Yahshua.

We will always love and cherish you and do our best to raise you in Yehovah's ways.

Yah bless you always little Ezekiel.

Love Mum (and Dad and the kids!) xxxxxx

 

Catch Up Post: Birthings Magazine: Preparing our Munchkins for our Homebirth

Last year, after our amazing HOMEBIRTH OF ZEEKI, I wrote an article for the Birthings Mag about how we prepared our children in the lead up to this incredible event.

Although it was published late last year, I'm finally getting around to posting it here too.

Yes! Soon I will even post about the homebirth (that will be in honour of Zeeki's first birth in a couple of weeks time! Only a year on but hey! lol)

{My friend Michelle and her beautiful fam graced the cover of this issue}

{Here was the article...and I shared the double page spread with Meredith's Frangipani Baby site from whom I bought my Caboo Carrier!}

I thought I would copy and paste the article here.

“I wonder what he’ll look like?” said our curious six year old son Ethan. “I think he’ll have no hair” replied Elijah, almost eight, emphatically. “Boys, we won’t know ‘till he gets here” came the voice of reason from older sister Stassi who was nine. Conversations like this were aplenty in our house in the lead up to their baby brother’s homebirth. Two year old Zipporah wasn’t exactly sure what was happening although she did love reading through the ‘Hello Baby’ book that we had bought online to help prepare the kids.

{We love 'Hello Baby'}

We were all in new territory really, since this was my first homebirth. None of us really knew what to expect although we really did try and prep them (and ourselves!) the best we could. We talked about all the things that might happen; mummy might not be able to talk to you during the birth because she has to concentrate a lot. Mummy might use her voice to help her get through the contractions so she might sound a bit loud but that’s ok! You might see some blood, but that’s normal doesn’t mean that mummy is hurt. The labour might be quick or it might take a long time.

Our almost eight year old son is autistic and can cope with different situations as long as he is well prepared for them. So we decided that it would be good to watch my previous labour videos as a family. One rainy Sunday afternoon, we piled onto our bed, hooked up the old video tapes and discussed them as we watched. The kids cried with joy and I knew they would be so excited to be at this baby, our fifth child’s birth.

One day during the pregnancy, I invited the kids to a ‘tree party’; we took some hot chips to our favourite park, set down the picnic rug under a huge tree and talked about the impending arrival of our little one. I asked each child what they would like to do during the birth and as we brainstormed, I wrote down their ideas.

{Our tree party - iphone photo}

{Iphone photo recording our special tree party birth planning session!}

That was a very special day for me. I wanted to bottle their excitement and enthusiasm. It was so precious! Later on in the pregnancy, I took the ideas I’d jotted down and photographed each activity. Some of the activities were getting mum her water bottle, doing a special scarf dance around the birth pool, watching a Little House on the Prairie DVD, making cards for mum and colouring in stuff! Once I had photographed each activity, I printed these off and put them into a little mini photo album for each child.

Each album while different said something along the lines of...’During labour, I can...’ and then had the photo and the label in the album sleeve. I then sewed up a special felt pouch for the albums to go in, each in our kids’ favourite colours so they would know who’s was who’s.  They were so stoked when I showed the albums and pouches to them! These sat in the activity basket with the activities themselves for the remainder of the pregnancy.

{Special activities basket all ready and set aside for birth-day}

Preparing our children meant not just allowing them to chat about the birth but also involve them in the pre and post birth things we did too.

{All the kids helped with the prep for the baby blessing. Ethi squeezes orange juice}

All of them helped to cook with me and get the house ready for my pre-birth celebration. Stassi (our eldest) attended the day and enjoyed hearing the other women encourage me with words and scriptures.

{My beautiful friend Lori prays for little Zeeki in utero at my pre-birth celebration}

 It was so special to have her there too. We sang a song together that I’d composed for the birth and she had learnt it too. She sang it beautifully that day and was the proudest big sister ever!

{It was such a special moment having Stass sing with me}

{Stass practices her scarf dance which she did around the birth pool while I laboured to a special song composed - Psalm 23}

The kids attended most of my day-appointments with Hazel.

They loved to hear bubby’s heartbeat through the Doppler and Hazel would let them hear their own heartbeats which they loved so much!


(Stass helps Hazel make the belly button tie which we then sterilised in preparation for the birth. She loved being included in this step.}

They all helped to clean the cot and move it next to our bed. The kids helped to pick out music too that would play during the birth and would enjoy listening to the songs in the lead up to it as well.

 I bought and assembled a small rocking chair for our two year old to sit in, in preparation for once bubby was here and breastfeeding. I collected some books and put them in a basket near my big rocking chair and before Zeeki was born, we would sit in our chairs, rocking back and forth and read stories together.

The children would talk to Ezekiel in utero all the time; kissing my belly, rubbing it, giving him ‘hi-fives’!

Often the kids would come and lay hands on my tummy and pray for Ezekiel. They would talk to him like he was already here and that made my heart sing so much! They had formed a very special relationship with him before he had even arrived into our arms!

No doubt, the preparation we did do helped them to have such open hearts to meet him and prepare them for what would happen during the birth. It was incredible to have them in the room while I birthed Ezekiel. We were all there to welcome him with so much love. I’ll never forget their sweet voices saying excitedly, “Hi Zeeki!!!” “Praise Yah!!!” or “He’s here!!!” The birth was such an incredibly rich bonding experience for our whole family; especially Ezekiel’s siblings.

{Photos below taken by the awesome Mell Mallin}

{In awe of birth and of their baby brother}

{Ethi got to do one of the things he had brainstormed at the tree party months before; give me some water in the birth pool. He was so happy! lol!}

{While I relax in the glow of after-birth wonder and joy, the boys continue on with their craft, going back and forth between the pool and the table}

{Love the kids' faces here}

{Zippi wasn't overwhelmed at all. She LOVED being there!}

{Pushing out the placenta was something we had talked about so the kids wouldn't be scared. They coped really well and knew this was all a natural part of the birthing process}

{A special moment between me and my eldest who was so supportive the whole time. I will forever treasure the memory of Stass being there that night. She was so full of joy and wonder.}

The next day, Zippi our two year old proudly told me, “Zeeki not in your tummy anymore. Zeeki came out your wo-wo (vagina) and into the birth pool! He’s not in your tummy now!”

Every little conversation, question and activity we did to help them prepare for the birth of their baby brother was totally worth it and we hope we get to do it all over again sometime soon!

  Well, that was the article with some extra photos thrown in for good measure.

More to come soon!

I have reno photos to share, a post on swimming, thoughts on autism as we journey through, birthdays and lots more.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks!
Lus x

Ezekiel's Homebirth Slideshow

All of the photos featured here in this slideshow were taken by photographer and my friend MELL MALLIN. When I get a chance, I'll post more of Zeeki's birth story but for now I thought I'd share this gorgeous slideshow which Mell kindly, creatively and beautifully put together for us - THANKS MELL!!!! We love you!

I hope you enjoy watching it!

Love,

HalleluYAH (Praise to YAH!) Ezekiel is here!!!

Ezekiel Qelevuki was born on Monday night at 11.44pm in the water at home surrounded by our loving family, our beautiful MIDWIFE HAZEL, my gorgeous friend AND PHOTOGRAPHER MELL MALLIN who took these incredibly precious shots for us! My beautiful sil made it not long after the birth and supported us incredibly leading up to it and after it with the kids. My parents were also present which was an incredible blessing, reading scriptures aloud, praying over me and helping out in wonderful ways!

I'll be back down the track with a bit more of the birth story but in brief, it lasted 34 mins from first contraction to birth, he was born 8 pounds 6 oz (my biggest bubba yet!) and was 52 cm long.

Here are some of the birth shots...

My amazing and supportive Brett...

Our first family photo with all 7 of us!

It was such a wonderful experience!
I am SO enjoying being at home.
We've respectfully asked for no visitors at this time so we can just get to know our precious little addition more and I think because of that I am even more relaxed than ever!!!
Praise Yah! He is so FAITHFUL!!!
Please check out HOW MELL SHARED ABOUT THE BIRTH ON HER BLOG.
Thank you for all your prayers, kind wishes and words of support.
Will be back with more another time.
Much love to you all,

41 weeks +1 ...A little Pregnancy Update!

Hi everyone!

So I thought I would pop in for a brief update!

Here's the point form low down of where we are at with this pregnancy...

41 weeks + 1 day today (according to our dates!)

For the past 6 weeks now I've been having strong contractions.

Really strong contractions sometimes and at other times, not as intense - more like mild menstrual cramping.

I also have a history of very quick and extremely intense labours so you can imagine that every time I get one of those strong contractions, I'm wondering if 'this is it!'

I won't go into all the details here but basically, for reasons out of our control, Brett is working alot of the coming two weeks. So I was really hoping bubba might have shown up last week or this weekend rather than when Brett will be at work. My parents WILL be here though staying with us so that is a MASSIVE blessing!!! 

So, with Brett's work situation coupled with the contractions, Hazel thought it might be helpful to come over and give me a pressure point foot rub with some yummy clary sage oil...

I've had three foot massages now from the lovely HAZEL, OUR BEAUTIFUL MIDWIFE. 

On Thursday, she did a stretch and sweep of the membranes and found I was 4cm dialated! We ordered dinner in because we thought full blown labour might begin any second!!! I had lots of irregular contractions but nothing you could time.

Brett rang his sister who came to look after the kiddos because he thought it must be so close! With Zippi, I went from being 3cm dilated to delivering her in 15 minutes so poor guy was quite shocked when we woke that morning and there was still no bubba! lol

Hazel stayed for dinner and once the kids were in bed, we left Brett at home and headed for a walk around our very hilly area thinking that might help the contractions to continue and become more regular. Hazel headed off late that night and I had the best night's sleep I'd had in ages!

On Friday, I had had a show (loss of the cervical mucous plug). Again, in the past, all 4 times I've had the show and then begun VERY STRONG contractions straight away and held a baby in my arms within 4 hours at the very longest from when I had the show!

I cancelled my chiro appointment on Friday and waited for the contractions to build.

I made myself some BIRTHING BLISS HERBAL TEA...

Brett thought it would be a good idea, given my history, to get some of our birthing things ready.
He wheeled out the birthing carts...

...set up the urns...

...brought out the recliner (the next little station I will possibly go to after I've had enough time in the pool and have delivered bubby)...

...and then we waited!

But unlike any other pregnancy and delivery I've experienced, nothing happened!

That afternoon, I thought we should continue on as normal so I wrote up the weekly menu + shopping list and Brett went up the street (with his mobile phone!) to do the shopping.

In the afternoon, Brett's brother stopped in (who lives a number of hours away and we don't get to see that often) and stayed for afternoon tea; some scones I'd baked with the tangerine marmalade - yum!

We got some sad news from some very dear friends of ours on Friday, whom we are thinking of non stop. It is a very clear reminder that only God knows the plans He has for each of our lives.

Hazel had a HUGE day in Sydney on Friday but still swung by our house that night to check on me. She's just so gorgeous and caring!

We used the REBOZO once again and Hazel felt she should stay the night because we all had a feeling it was very close! My gorgeous SIL also stayed the night.

During the early dark hours of Saturday morning, I couldn't sleep and was quite uncomfortable. I had more sporadic contractions that were strong enough to keep me awake but not strong enough to wake everyone up! lol!

I got on my knees with arms outstretched and said to Yah,

"I know that YOU have a plan and purpose and I want to submit to it and not fight it. Help me to know if there's anything I need to do and help me to know how to let you do YOUR thing in YOUR way in YOUR time!"

When I woke up on Shabbat, Hazel suggested we do another stretch and sweep and I'd had the same thing going in my mind! I was now 5cm dialated! Hazel jokingly said that the only thing keeping this baby in still is the bag of waters!

Brett and my SIL looked after the kiddos while Hazel and I headed out for another really long walk up and down some HUGE hills to see if that would once again move the irregular contractions into something more regular.

Nope!

Still not time!

We spent the rest of yesterday hanging out playing board games, catching up with Brett's folks and then were invited by Hazel and some of the kids to the park for "an impromptu Shabbat afternoon tea"!

It was such lovely weather so we headed out in the afternoon.

Here are some shots from our time together there...

Once home, the slow cooker meal was served by Brett while I had a little nap.

Bubby was hitting my cervix so strongly that I thought once again, my waters could just break any second!

So once the kiddos were in bed, Brett pumped up the pool (but didn't fill it) just in case.

This morning, the pool is deflated again sitting ready to go when the time comes! It's all good practice though, right?!?!

Physically, I'm feeling a bit more tired these past couple of days but I think most of that is because I've had a lot of broken sleep with strong contractions. Prasing Yah though that my back is good (esp the sciatic neve!) and I'm not feeling nauseas or anything like that.

Spiritually, I feel Yah is really wanting to teach me to let go of any notions I've previously had about birth! I think He is wanting me to REALLY trust in Him alone; that it is fine to make plans but when they don't happen the way that I want, I still need to hold fast to Him and know that He is in control! He's taught me this lesson before but I must really need it again! I know that soon our little one will be here with us and honestly, that is such a huge blessing that I am focussing on.

Emotionally, honestly, it is a bit of a roller coaster to think labour could be so close and for bubby not to be here yet BUT I really do know and trust that my loving Father has a perfect time appointed for this little guy's arrival. I feel excited to meet our little one but at the same time incredibly sad for my dear friend who is going through one of the toughest times in her life.

Today is Father's Day and I am blessed to celebrate it with my best friend who is such an awesome daddy to our kiddos!

{Father's Day 2009}

I am thankful also for both my dad and my father in law. Even with their faults, these three men are strong figures in my life whom I love and cherish.

We took Brett's dad out for morning tea at a local cafe this morning, celebrated Brett at home with some special cuddles, cards and gifts and will see my dad this afternoon!

Before I head off, I'll leave you with Psalm 62: 5-8 which I have found very comforting and encouraging!

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge".

I praise my Father, Yehovah, because He is my salvation, my Rock, my hope, my fortress, my refuge and the One to whom I can pour out my heart!

Well, much love to you my friends in blog land!

Thanks for the prayers, emails, comments, texts and calls - all very encouraging to know we are thought of!

More another time,

Love