9.07.2006

grandpa's hands

gabriel brandon shillington flew into this world on a wing and a prayer. karen began active labour around 12:00-12:30 pm, we figure. she had just met with the midwife at eleven to find out she was dialated 2 cm, an increase of 1 cm from the week before. by 1:30 we called our doula to come to the house, and by 2:30 the midwives arrived. by this time karen's labour was quite intense. they did another exam at 3:00 and found out she was fully dialated! we were all shocked, and since everything was progressing so fast karen was already ready to start pushing. the midwife gave us the option of proceeding to the hospital like we had originally planned, except we would have to take an ambulance to get her there in time, or we could have the baby at home. we decided to take a chance and go to the hospital. we arrived there around 3:30 or so and at 4:48 gabriel was born. he came out in the caul, another name for the amniotic sac. karen's water never broke, and when gabe came out his head was completely encased in the sac. one midwife exclaimed that she could see him still breathing the amniotic fluid! they broke the sac and brought him out the rest of the way. the midwives were quite ecstatic about having a birth "in the caul" because it is so rare. supposedly, according to legend and what-not, a child born in the caul will never drown and is thought to have supernatural powers, to be a lucky baby, with one foot in the spiritual world and one in the physical. we stayed at the hospital for the required minimum four hours, then came home to our more comfy bed. karen is healing well and we are having a blast learning how to be parents! he is a most beautiful baby.

12 comments:

Rachel said...

Wow! Sounds like an amazing first labour! I'm so happy for you all. Do you think you'd consider a home birth next time? I've also heard that it's incredibly good luck to have a baby born in the caul.

CONGRATULATIONS! May God bless you all as you go through this time of awe and adjustment.

Mommy of Four said...

WOW! THAT WAS FAST!

So glad to hear it went so well!

And by the way...."the minimum of four hours"?!?! What hospital is THAT! I wanna have my kids THERE! Our absolute MINIMUM is 24 hours!!

dawna said...

congratulations! gabe is beautiful... have fun with him! hugs from moose jaw...

Sarah Jane said...

Oh! I am so happy for you both. He is so beautiful....and looks just lke his daddy. Rest well Karen, and enjoy absolutely every minute, b/c they don't stay itty-bitty for long!
If I read correct, this only took 4hours start to finish?! Good for you.
God bless you both!

Angela said...

Kayla- this would be a Canadian hospital, where the government pays for everything, so they're not going to make you stay to get a "overnight" charge out of you.
I miss the Canadian health support.

I miss you.
I miss Karen.
Now I miss Gabe.
I miss Grandpa.
It's so hard being so far away!

Erskine said...

Enormous blessing, enormously cute baby. For real!! (You know how some babies aren't really cute, but they are because they're babies. Well, yours is beautiful.)

Heather Durkee said...

this "caul" thing is very interesting! Thanks for filling in the details.

Mommy of Four said...

A Caul birth is quite often referred to as a "dry" birth, as well. I have had two friends have this, and I have never heard this legend before...I'm sure they will be interested to hear it;)

Liz said...

WOWZERS! That is an AMAZING story! I've never heard of a 'caul' birth before. That's crazy!
Congratulations Shillingtons! Give your precious little miracle a kiss for us!

Aaron Perry said...

this is pretty amazing, b. congratulations.

Anonymous said...

you guys sure have a fan club here. What a labour, karen you have the super powers. Love you and will be bring you some comfort food on monday. That is one cute baby. Really he came out perfect.
love you guys and the next couple of weeks will be special for you three.
shannonC

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Brandon & Karen. Gabe is absolutely beautiful. We can't wait to meet him. Good luck with everything in the next few months!!

Wade & Janet Foster