Flats & Handwashing Challenge Days 4: Wash Routine

Alright, so it's technically now Day 6. Naturally, my children would choose this week to stay up late, wake up early, and randomly party throughout the night in between. But, my wonderful, amazing, saintly mother just came and grabbed the tot for the day, the baby is sleeping, and I am reveling in the quiet and my coffee, and I think I may actually be able to finally knock this post out! (Lies! The baby awoke soon after they left and hubby and I spent the day running errands sans toddler, but it was still a nice change of pace!)

The blog prompt for Thursday for was to talk about your wash routine. I actually ended up taking a break from washing and blogging that day, so I'm just running a little behind now. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I washed in my camp washer, but yesterday, since I skipped washing Thursday, I decided to wash in the bathtub to better accommodate the larger load. I also chose to wash in the middle of the day instead of waiting until night time (more on that adventure later). I'll go over my routines for both methods.

I've been going through about 8-10 diaper changes per day during the challenge. Sometimes I use 2 flats for nap time diapers so I'm washing anywhere from 8-12 flats at a time. At the end of the day if any of my covers have gotten poop on them, or if they just smell like pee I toss them in too. (If they still smell ok at the end of the day I just hang them up to keep using them the next day). At least 2 covers have been going in every night. This load size pretty much maxes out the camp washer. Too many diapers will keep you from being able to get proper agitation and the diapers won't be able to get clean enough.

If I'm being honest, I am very ready to get back to machine washing my diapers, Hand washing isn't terrible, but it has been pretty time consuming. I actually haven't done any regular laundry all week because by the time I get the kids in bed and get the diapers washed, rinsed, wrung out, and hung to dry it's been pushing midnight. It's also hard physical work if you're not used to it. Lots of bending over, churning, moving the full heavy bucket around, and wringing things out. Seriously, with the wringing! I now have blisters on my hands from wringing out all of these darn diapers. I've got blistahs on me fingahs! And then they still take millennia to dry.

But I digress. On to the wash routine!

Camp Washer Method

Presoak

Fill the bucket to a few inches above the diapers with cold water. Add a tiny bit of detergent. Do a few plunges to get the detergent mixed in and then let it sit. I've been doing this before bedtime and then just letting them sit until I can get back to them. I'd say they soak for at least an hour. When I do get back to them I'll usually give them a couple more plunges to loosen everything up, then dump the whole contents of the bucket into the tub, lightly wring everything out, and toss it all back into the bucket.

Main wash

Fill the bucket back up to a few inches above the diapers with hot water. Add about 2 tablespoons of detergent. Plung 90 times. Let sit for awhile (I usually use this time for the baby's second bedtime...). Plung another 90 times. Dump again. Wring again. Back in the bucket again.

Bucket rinse

Fill the bucket all the way to the top with cold water. I like to let it continue to run and actually overflow for a bit, plunging the whole time to get the detergent out of the fibers, Dump. Wring. Do this type of rinse twice.

Faucet rinse

I rinse each piece individually under the faucet, wring it out as much as possible, and hang up to dry

Bathtub Method

This really isn't that much different than the camp washer method, just on a slightly larger scale.

Presoak

Fill the tub to cover the diapers with cold water. Add a little bit of detergent. Mix it all around with the plunger or your hands. Let it sit for awhile. Mix it all around again, drain the water, and wring everything out,

Main Wash

Fill the tub back up to about 1/3 full with hot water. Add a little more than 2 tablespoons of detergent. Now get to washing, I didn't count plunges in the tub. I used the plunger and focused on different sections of the tub for a minute or so at a time. I also used my hands and rubbed the diapers together and on the rough bottom of the tub, One thing I like about tub washing as opposed to the bucket was that I could really see the diapers so I could see what spots needed a little more attention. Because I washing during the day while the munchkins were awake I kept getting called away so the diapers got some scrubbing, and then some sitting, and more scrubbing and more sitting. Once they're clean, drain the water and wring everything out.

Rinses

I did the rinses for the tub method the same way I did for the camp washer. Two full tub rinses in cold water and then rinsing each piece under the faucet.

Throughout the entire washing process Evelyn was dying to get into the tub with the diapers. I kept having to remind her that the water was dirty and not to stick her toys or hands in it. She did put on one of my gloves and mix them around some. I did finally let her get in during some of the rinsing. I probably ended up using 3 times the water that I needed because of her "help," but she had fun and that's what matters, right?

Drying

I really really want a clothesline! I have this drying rack which isn't bad, but it really isn't big enough. I prefer to dry outside in the sun to bleach stains and for the airflow, but, naturally, it has rained pretty much all week, After my first wash on Monday night I hung everything up, turned the exhaust fan on, and 16 hours later everything was still damp. Particularly the covers. Talk about frustrating! I reached out to the challenge Facebook group and was advised to to roll the covers up in a towel to get as much excess moisture out as possible before hanging them up, and also to not leave everything in the bathroom because there probably isn't enough airflow. That helped A LOT the next night. They're always going to take awhile to dry indoors, but I was able to find ways to get them usable in a little less than 16 hours.

Every wash routine, whether hand or machine washing, is going to take a little trial and error. I took parts of different routines and found what worked for me. As ready as I am to be done hand washing, I think I've found a routine that would work if I had to keep going. 

And now it's time for me to go and finish up my final hand washing routine!

Flats & Handwashing Challenge Day 3: Diaper Laundry DIY!

Let's be real for minute. This is a lazy post. The kids were crazy today and the baby didn't go to bed until after 10:30. We also weren't given a blog prompt today. But, in the spirit of the challenge, I wanted to post something, so I decided to make a post about some of the DIY projects associated with the challenge.

Camp Washer 

Materials:
5 gal bucket and lid
Plunger
Drill

Step 1: Drill a whole in the center of the lid large enough for the plunger handle to fit through 

I borrowed the drill from my parents and there's a possibility it was used to build the Mayflower. This is a "no-frills" type of power tool, so there is no fancy "large hole making" attachment (see how advanced my power tool lingo is?), so I just used a regular drill bit and carved the best possible circle I could. *Note: After actually using the the washer I decided that the lid was more annoying than useful, so you could skip this step.

Step 2: Drill holes in the plunger

This was more difficult than I thought it would be. That drill weighs about a million pounds and kept slipping all around, but it got the job done. 

And TAH-DAH! 

DIY Splatter Shield

On a whim I just cut off the top and bottom of an empty detergent jug (after rinsing it out really well),  then duct taped the top with the handle to the side, and added a chip clip to hold the diaper to it. It works....ok. The chip clip isn't quite strong enough to hold a super soggy diaper, but it does contain some of the splatter. I didn't pay anything for it, so it is what it is. I do like that it keeps the diaper from flopping everywhere while I spray it.

Day 3 Update

Like I said above, it wasn't the smoothest day. Diapering was fine, but everything else was just out of sorts. And, of course, Ellie pooped as soon as I was done with the diaper laundry. I am overly annoyed by the fact that there is still now 1 diaper in the pail.

Flats & Handwashing Challenge Day 2: Let's talk about the stash! Materials and Cost

One thing that holds people back from trying cloth diapers (aside from the laundry) is cost. Some of the modern cloth diapers cost $25+ a piece! While high quality diapers are an investment, for many families $25 is a lot of money and one single diaper won't get you too far. If this is the only side of cloth diapers you're seeing then it absolutely makes since that you'd feel like your $25 is better spent on a box of disposables. I have a few expensive diapers, and, I'll admit, they're pretty awesome, but, at the end of the day, the purpose is to catch poop.

Here are the official rules of the challenge, and then I'll get into my own cost breakdown. I gave myself the added rule that I would not purchase any new diapers for the challenge.

Materials Allowed

The following diapering items can be used:
• Any flat cloth diaper, store bought or handmade. A flat should be only 1 layer of material for easier handwashing and faster drying.
• 1 night time diaper per night of your choice although you are asked to make flats work for you (this diaper must also be handwashed)
• Doublers (not inserts meant to be absorbent enough to stand alone) if you absolutely must.
• A diaper sprayer.
• Wet bags/diaper pails for storage.
• Handmade “washing machine” for diapers such as the camp style washer
• Non Electronic Portable washing machines (must be powered by you and cost less than $100.
• Commercially available or handmade covers.
• Commercially available or handmade detergents.
• Snappi or other devices for closure.
• Pocket diapers STUFFED WITH FLATS. (note that the potential for repelling on the stay dry lining could make your challenge harder but you can see what happens)
• Homemade or store bought fleece liners.
• Iron (to use in order to expedite drying time or sterilize)
Materials Not Allowed
• Electronic washer/dryer.
• Pockets with inserts other than flats, AIO’s, Fitteds, Contours, Prefolds, AI2’s, etc.
• Flushable liners.

Rules for Everyone

• You cannot use your washer or dryer.
• If for some reason something arises and an exception is made you need to disclose in the Conclusions Survey or on your blog if you are a blogger.
• There is no limit on the number of flats or covers you can use. Should you purchase 100 flats for $100 and go a whole week without washing? No. Use your common sense on this one. As a tip the more diapers in your camp washer/ sink/ tub the harder the washing will be.

For a little clarification, a flat diaper is defined as a single layer of fabric folded in various ways to create a diaper. Flats are awesome because they can be made from anything. Yes, cloth diaper companies sell diapers specifically marketed as flats, but chances are you have some very good flats laying around your home and don't even realize it! Flannel receiving blankets, flour sack towels, and even old t-shirts make awesome flats! Incidentally, I don't actually own a single "official" flat diaper.

Here's the cost breakdown for my diaper stash and washing supplies. I also looked around at some cheaper options you could substitute for some of the things I use.

Flat Diapers and Diaper Doublers

20 flour sack towels (Walmart sells a 5 pack for $4.88) - $19.52
7 Carter's 34"×28" receiving blankets (baby shower gifts) - $0
7 square receiving blankets various brands (baby shower gifts) - $0
3 Hemp Babies doublers (bought used for $3 each) - $9

Total cost for diapers/doubles - $28.52

I realize not everyone has a baby shower or receives gifts for their baby. Receiving blankets are often sold for less than $1 each at thrift stores, and I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a mama looking to get rid of some on a buy/sell/trade site. (Obviously, use good judgement and be safe if you choose to purchase or sell anything through a b/s/t site)

Diaper covers and accessories

2 Nicki's Diapers one-size diaper covers ($10.95 each) - $21.90
1 Thirties Duo Wrap Size 2 - $12.75
1 Econobum one-size diaper cover  - $11.95 (I got 2 with a BOGO deal, but a friend is borrowing the other one)
1 Blueberry one-size diaper cover (bought used) - $5
1 Flip one-size diaper cover - $9.95
3 pack Snappi diaper fasteners - $11.98
1 bumGenius Outing wet bag - $12.95

Total cost for covers and accessories - $86.48

So, I'm using 6 covers, and, while it's nice that I have options (especially when your baby gets poop on 3 of them in one day), it's definitely not necessary to have that many! In a pinch you could probably get away with 2, though 3 or 4 would give you a little more breathing room. Cotton Babies seems to always have the BOGO sale going on the Econobum covers (2 for $11.95), but if that's too expensive, Gerber plastic pants are about as inexpensive as you can go (if you're buying new). A 4 pack is $6.25 at Walmart. The downside to the plastic pants is that they're sized so you'd have to buy bigger ones as baby grows.

Also, while I like my Snappis, I feel like they're kind of pricey for what they are, and, if I'm being honest, they actually don't work that great with receiving blankets. A pack of 4 diaper pins is $1 at Walmart and may end up serving you better. The small "outing" wet bag is also a luxury that you can easily go without. Plastic grocery bags work just fine, in my opinion. Many people also store their dirty diapers in a diaper pail or a large hanging wet bag, but, because I'm hand washing and washing every day, I'm just tossing my dirties in the bucket that I wash them in so I didn't include any cost for dirty diaper storage.

Washing Equipment (I went with a camp style washer set up)

1 5 gallon bucket - $2.98
1 bucket lid - $1.38
1 plunger - $1.29
1 1.95 gal container of Sun laundry detergent (used for clothes laundry as well) - $7.99
1 indoor drying rack - $15

Total cost for washing equipment - $28.64

I bought my bucket from Lowe's, but then discovered that Walmart's were a few cents cheaper. Also, after my first day of washing I found the bucket lid to be super annoying so I stopped using it. As long as you can wash somewhere where a little splashing isn't an issue (I wash with the bucket in the bath tub) I think you'd be fine to to not buy the lid. I chose Sun detergent because it's one of the cheapest at Kroger and I really love the scent. I've been really pleased with how it cleans my clothes and diapers (hand washing and machine washing). And I'm totally guessing on the cost of my drying rack. I bought it several years ago and can't find anything similar to it online, but I know it wasn't very expensive because I wouldn't have bought it if it were!

Total cost for everything - $143.64

You can see that the bulk of the expense comes from the covers, but it wouldn't be hard to really pare that down. Consider that a box of disposables is generally around $25. The budget for my cloth set up would allow you to purchase roughly 6 boxes of disposable diapers.

Day 2 Update

Ellie was a poop machine today! She's usually a once a day pooper, but I think we ended up with 4 poopy diapers. The diapering is pretty easy, but I got really frustrated with my wash routine today. It took me nearly 3 hours to get everything washed and hung up to dry and that's just not reasonable. I've asked the Facebook group for the challenge for some tips and hopefully things will go more smoothly next time.

{This is technically from a few days ago, but how cute is a receiving blanket on the bum!}

Flats & Handwashing Challenge Day1: Why am I doing the challenge?

This week I'm super excited to be participating in the Flats & Handwashing Cloth Diaper Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. Today through Sunday, May 22nd, Eleanor will be diapered in only flat cloth diapers (no pockets, no fitteds, no glorious AI2s), and all diaper laundry will be hand washed and air dried. Yes, I love my fancy diapers. Yes, I have a perfectly functional washer and dryer. So then, why put all of this extra work?

I originally ran across the information for the challenge while looking up ways to fold flat diapers. We will be vacationing in early June and I plan to take flats because of easy they are to launder, but I don't have much experience with them. I initally chose to participate in the challenge just to get my feet wet. To see if flats would even work for us. As I learned more about the challenge, however, my reasons for participating began to change.

Kim Rosas of Dirty Diaper Laundry began the Flats & Handwashing challenge 6 years ago after hearing that some low income families, unable to afford new diapers for their children, were attempting to "wash" and reuse disposable diapers. Take a step back from "OMG that's gross!" and put yourself in these parents' shoes. Can you imagine feeling as though you have no other option but to put a soiled diaper back on your precious baby?

I live in Kentucky. Our state has the 5th lowest annual income in the United States - a little over $10k below the national average (per the Kaiser Family Foundation). As of the 2012 census, 19.4 percent of Kentuckians were living below the poverty line, and regions of eastern Kentucky are some of the poorest in the entire country. Need is no stranger to my home state. Even with myself and my husband working full time jobs I often found myself standing in the baby aisle at the grocery crunching numbers to see which brand of diapers would give me the best deal and wondering if the lower quality was worth the few dollars savings that the bargain brand offered. I praise God that, while we don't always have everything we want, our little family has never had to make the decision "do we buy diapers or formula for the baby this week?" I know families who have. And it shouldn't be this way. There are options, You can offer your baby a CLEAN diaper even you can't afford the $10-ish per week it would take to keep my 6 month old in disposables full time (we average around 10 diapers every 24 hours and Parent's Choice diapers are $19.77 for a box of 144 size 3s). Even if you don't have a washing machine!

The Flats & Handwashing Challenge means to highlight diaper need and how cloth diapers can meet that need in a truly economical way. I am participating in this challenge in the hope that someone may see what I'm doing and realize that cloth diapering is an inexpensive and effective means of diapering, and that they might be able to breathe a little easier because of that.

Tomorrow I'll be talking about my "stash" and the cost of everything involved. You won't want to miss it!

Not {quite} your grandma's diapers [Part 1]

When I found out I was pregnant with Evelyn I researched EVERYTHING. I wanted to learn whatever I could about so called "natural parenting" - unmedicated birth, breastfeeding, and even cloth diapering. My mother experienced 2 out of 3 births without pain medication, and both she and my older sister had successfully breastfed, but I wasn't close with anyone who had any experience with modern cloth diapers. And, I'll be honest, I never even thought about talking to my grandmother about her experience diapering in the 50's (serious oversight there!)

Wading through all of the information available on the internet about cloth diapers was seriously overwhelming. I read blogs, perused sale sites, watched videos, and even met with a cloth diapering friend to gain a little hands-on knowledge, but ultimately Mike and I decided that being first time parents would be crazy enough without adding one more new thing to the mix. Alas, no cute fluffy bum for my baby.

Fast forward 3 years. When Evelyn was 2 years old and I was newly pregnant with our second sweet babe a very close friend began cloth diapering her new baby girl. Incidentally, this was a friend who had told me I was nuts when I had mentioned considering cloth with Evelyn. She sent me cute fluff pictures and we texted back and forth about the laundering, the prepping, and how much she loved it. My desire to try cloth for myself was revived, and, since I wasn't quite so new at this parenting game anymore, I decided to test the waters for myself!

I began my cloth diapering journey by purchasing a lot of 9 preloved pocket diapers and a whole hamper full of microfiber inserts for $25. These diapers had been through at least 2 other families before coming to us, and it showed. A few snaps were pulling through the inner lining and the waterproof layer of polyurethane laminate, or PUL, was worn and leaky, but I still loved them! Those worn out diapers were my gateway into the exciting (and slightly addicting) world of modern cloth diapers, and I now have at least 1 of just about every type of diaper, I think.

Unfortunately, Evelyn didn't quite share my love. After 2 years of disposable diapers she didn't like the feeling of the extra bulk between her legs or the elastic around her thighs. She would tolerate them sometimes and other times flat out refuse them. I stuck to using them when she would allow and focusing more on how best to cloth diaper a newborn.

{Evelyn sharing her displeasure with the Grovia O.N.E. and crying for a "squishy" (disposable) diaper}

Because Evelyn had been under 7 pounds at birth I didn't anticipate our new nugget to be able to fit into my one-size diapers right away. I registered for and was gifted a few newborn sized diapers and chose to flesh out the rest of my newborn stash with  cheap flour sack towels to use as flat diapers and a few newborn sized waterproof covers. All of these options fit Eleanor well when she was born at 7 pounds 11 ounces, though, to be honest, I didn't really use them that much. I put her in them here and there, but getting used to 2 kids was kind of hectic and draining. Who am I kidding? It is and will continue to be hectic and draining!

{Little 12 day old chicken legs in a newborn sized pocket diaper}

It wasn't until Ellie was about 12 weeks old that I really jumped into using cloth as my main source of diapering. I still use disposable some now, mainly at night because she still wakes often or when I've been lazy with laundry, but she does wear cloth a lot of the time. If there's one thing I've really clung to in this journey it is that cloth does not have to be all or nothing. I'm not failing if we have week in disposables. My kids are diapered, and that's what matters!

I was a little concerned about the laundry in the beginning, but it isn't nearly as bad as it might seem, especially because, up until now, Eleanor has been exclusively breastfed and her poop is completely water soluble so I can toss the dirty diapers straight into the wash with no rinsing. This glorious time is coming to an end now that she's started solid food and I'll have to start rinsing, though. With the amount of diapers that I have I can conceivably go 3 days between washing, but if I do that my load is too big and my diapers don't always come out clean. I found out early on that our HE washing machine (a top loader with no agitator) is not ideal for cloth diaper laundry, but I got some really great information from Fluff Love University and have been able to find a routine that isn't too lengthy and that gets my fluff nice and clean. They are an amazing resource for all things related to cloth diaper laundry!

I heard from many in the cloth diapering community that using cloth is no more difficult than using disposables. As awesome as cloth is, I can't completely agree. If we're talking just diapering, cloth has more steps and takes more time. It's not hard, just not AS easy as disposables. However, if we're going to consider the massive amounts of laundry that constant poopy blowouts create when using disposables then I think it all evens out. There's something immensely satisfying about clean diaper laundry that just isn't there with regular laundry. If it were possible to use cloth diapers and disposables clothes, I would strongly consider it!

{This is my happy place}

Stay tuned! In Part 2 I'll give an overview of the different types of cloth diapers and let you know which ones are my favorites!

The birth of Eleanor Sue

The arrival of our second sweet baby happened at a bit of a whirlwind time for our family.

My due date was October 31^st, and the only hiccup I was really concerned about was that my midwife wouldn't be able to be there. We had planned a homebirth with Katie, the same midwife that attended Evelyn's birth, but she was set to be leaving town on the 30th and wouldn't be back until November 9th. Though we had another excellent midwife who would be there either way, I just really wanted Katie to be a part of this birth. I trust her. I feel safe with her, and I wanted that familiarity. I was hoping that, being number two, this baby might decide to come early - just a few days early! - so that I wouldn't have to worry about it.

At 38 weeks I was between 1 and 2 centimeters dilated. I was keeping my fingers crossed that I would go into labor over the weekend. That way Katie would be there and my best friend and Mike's cousin, Sarah, would be able to drive up to be a part of the birth as well. Unfortunately, God had other plans for the weekend. Early that Saturday morning Mike's mother was rushed to the ER and admitted to the hospital. We spent the next two days practically living in the hospital waiting room, and ultimately ended up saying goodbye to her on Sunday night. I went from hoping the baby would come to praying that labor would hold off just a little while longer. The week between her passing and the funeral was one of the most stressful our little family has experienced. We were up well past midnight almost every night for one reason or another, and every night when I finally did get to bed I would begin contracting. I remember one night in particular I got into bed around 1 or 2am and not long after Evelyn woke up and began screaming. When I went to check on her she seemed very scared about something so I brought her into our bed, which is something that never happens. As I laid down and she snuggled into me the contractions came and I nearly cried. All I could think was "Please, not now. I can't do this right now." The funeral was held on my due date, with me, thankfully, still very much pregnant. God was faithful in sparing all of us the stress of me laboring in the middle of all of this and of Mike possibly having to choose between attending his mother's funeral and being with his wife and newborn child. Admittedly, once the services were over I think we were all ready for this little one to make an appearance.

But days continued to pass, and still no baby. I did my best to make it to work each day that following week, and to not let the wide eyes and the “you're STILL here!” comments get under my skin. We had withdrawn Evelyn from daycare on October 30^th and were having to find alternate care for each day that I continued to go past due. On Thursday morning, November 5^th, I dropped her off at a friend's house and made my way to the office. Around 9am I began feeling some discomfort that I thought could be mild contractions, but they were no different than the contractions I had been having nightly for the past 2 weeks so I didn't anticipate them going anywhere. However, with it being mid-morning as opposed to midnight I decided to try to time them and see if there was any regularity. Between phone calls, coworkers stopping to chat, and case work there was too much distracting me from the contractions to be able do much timing and I eventually gave up. I did go ahead and let Mike know, and I texted Elizabeth, the midwife who would be attending the birth, to let her know that I might possibly be in the process of going into labor. As time passed the contractions didn't seem to get stronger or more easily timed, but they didn't go away either and I also began to notice what I thought might be some bloody show. I decided I would go on home and take a nap just in case this did turn into the real thing. I arranged for Mike to pick Evelyn up from the sitter, then grabbed myself some lunch and headed home.

After an hour of laying in bed, it became apparent that sleep would not be coming. I was still contracting. Still not very strong, and still hard to time, but consistent enough to keep me awake.  Since I couldn't sleep I attempted to help things along by bouncing and rocking on my exercise ball. Around 5pm I updated the midwife that things were pretty much the same, but that the bloody show was continuing.

I have very scattered and fuzzy memories of the hours that followed, and I feel a little sad about that. I wish I remembered my last moments with Evelyn as my only baby a little more clearly. I remember having dinner and giving her a popsicle and putting her hair up in a bun to keep it from getting sticky. It struck me how grown up she looked. I remember putting her to bed and talking about how our baby might be coming and that she would be a big sister soon, and I remember sneaking back in to check on her after she had fallen asleep just to have a moment to bask in the beauty of my first little miracle.

Mike and I went about our usual evening activities. I turned on a movie and tried to relax for awhile, and eventually things finally seemed to pick up. I called the midwife and because she lives almost an hour away she said she would go ahead and come over. She and my friend Sarah arrived within a few minutes of each other around 11pm. I asked her to check me and was pleasantly surprised to be at 6 centimeters.

Though my contractions were more intense, the atmosphere remained very calm and relaxed. We all watched another movie together while I continued to bounce away on my ball and Elizabeth checked baby's heartbeat every now and then. During my pregnancy we had chosen not to find out the sex of the baby, so we spent some time making guesses as to whether the baby was a boy or a girl and what names we had picked out. It was a truly enjoyable time. Sarah joked that I wasn't acting like a woman in labor.

A little after midnight I had a snack and laid down to try to rest. Laying down seemed to intensify things. With each contraction I breathed deeply and told myself that I was feeling pressure and not pain. I visualized myself floating and that did seem to help. I was still very calm and Elizabeth said she thought we might have several hours to go so Mike and Sarah left to grab something to eat. Not long after they left I began needing to move and vocalize through the contractions. Elizabeth began filling the birthing pool, but advised me not to get in until Mike got back just in case it caused labor to really kick into gear. I texted Mike and asked him to hurry back. I was still handling things well, but it was clear that labor was finally moving forward!

Over the next couple of hours I labored in and out of the water, but I never truly found that perfect position that really relieved the contractions. I expected the birthing pool to be this magical place of peace and relief and it fell somewhat flat. The water did alleviate some of the intensity, but I couldn't really tell until I was getting out and the full force of gravity hit me. During that time I had a few moments of mild panic thinking about the pain I felt and knowing that medical pain relief wasn't an option. When these moments hit I tried very hard to slow my breathing, relax my muscles, and remind myself that the pain would not last forever and if I made it through the last contraction I could make it through the next one. I remember hearing Elizabeth and Sarah talking about how calm and in control I seemed. At one point Elizabeth said I was a very “graceful laborer.” I don't know what I looked like on the outside, but inside I felt anything but graceful!

I eventually found myself leaning back in the pool. With each contraction I rocked my legs back and forth. During this time, at the end of transition, I struggled the most with the pain. I felt my water break and knew that the baby was coming. I felt my body bearing down, and I honestly just wanted it to stop. I was fearful because I didn't remember being in this much pain when Evelyn was born. I vocalized my fear to my birth team and was reassured that it was almost over and that I was doing just fine, but I was so tired and I just wanted the pain to stop and to be able to go to sleep and then get back to pushing this baby out when I hadn't been laboring for 19 hours. Obviously, that didn't happen. My body did what it needed to do with very little conscious effort on my part. I pushed maybe 4 or 5 times and finally our baby was here! Sporting a nuchal fist (her fist was up by her face), which explained why transition and pushing felt so much more intense, and probably why my early labor last so long with little progress.

When I pulled my baby up onto my chest Elizabeth made reference to “she” or “her.” I asked excitedly if it was girl and tried to check, but wasn't in a great position to see. Elizabeth said that she hadn't even checked and had said that without thinking, but she was right! Our beautiful Eleanor Sue was born at 4:06am on November 6^th. Named in honor of her Granny, Donna Sue, and born exactly one year to the day from the loss of our last baby. In an extra special moment, Sarah cut the umbilical cord. It was such a blessing to have her be a part of this time with us.

God showed me such faithfulness, grace, mercy, and healing through Eleanor’s birth. All through my pregnancy I knew that I wanted my baby to be born at home, but I had no way of knowing how much I would need it. Her quiet peaceful entrance into the world was exactly what our family needed. 

I'm back!

So, it's no lie that I did an absolutely horrible job at updating the blog like I said I was going to. It's a little embarrassing actually, but, the past is in the past! I want to give it another try! I have at least a handful of new posts to throw at you, including Eleanor's complete (and perhaps long winded) birth story, so stay tuned!

There have been some significant changes in our house. Most notably, we are now a family of four, having welcomed our second daughter, Eleanor Sue, in November 2015! I have also ended my time with the Department of Revenue, and am now a stay at home mommy. I can honestly say I never thought this day would come! The decision to quit my job was not an easy one to come to, and, in just the few months since Ellie's birth, has already proved to be a bit tumultuous. But many of the most worthwhile decisions come with their fair share of struggle. I'm looking forward to living this new adventure and to sharing my thoughts along the way!