Spring started some “warm up contractions” about every hour on Saturday night, 6/15/13. The time was about 9:10PM. Contractions went on through the night and were 10 minutes apart by 4:45 Sunday morning. They were not lasting longer than 40 seconds at that time. They continued through the morning at about the same pace. Still not huge and not active regular labor. We went to Donna Barlow’s (midwife) at noon on Sunday to have the membranes stripped. That was very uncomfortable. Contractions then stopped for a little over an hour and a half. When they started back up around 2:00, they were still 10 minutes apart, but quickly became closer and closer. Titus got the hiccups during labor too a few times. Contractions were 5 minutes apart around 4:00 and lasting all around a minute or a little longer. We texted Donna around this time and she arrived at 4:45. At this time, Spring was laboring in the bath tub. The warm water was helping her some because of the intense back labor that she was having. Brian was trying to do some massage to help as much as possible.
GREGORY MICHAEL KRAFT Birth Story
Mommy went into the hospital Friday July 21st at 8:30 PM. The doctors thought it would be best for her to be induced Sat. morning, because the amniotic fluid was very low and the placenta was calcified. You were supposedly 81/2 pounds and you were overdue by ONE week according to the Doctor. It was our first baby, so we listened and did as we were told. The nurse came in and told us to get a good nights sleep. Yeah right!! Sleep good in a hospital!?! The bed was uncomfortable, and mommy was hooked up to the monitor. Daddy was suppose to sleep in a chair that looked like one in a dentist office. Gregory’s heart rate kept going sporadic all night long so they hooked an IV in Mommy just in case an emergency was to come up. Nurses kept coming in, so we had a GREAT NIGHT sleep (NOT!) From about 2 am to 3 am Daddy stayed up praying as he watched the monitor of Gregory’s heart rate. Dr. Geer came in at 4:30 and broke my water, and put a tube up in me for fluid. Harder labor began. Brian called my Mom and she came over to be with us during labor. Doctor gave me stadol at 7 am which worked wonders and sort of let me rest in between contractions. Then I got another dose of stadol at 9:00 am and you were BORN at 10:05 AM. Only 5 1/2 hrs of labor and only 25 mins of pushing you out. Then I pushed out the placenta. Then the painful part (really painful)…. I had to get stitched up because I tore some. Dr. Geer put shots to numb the area but that hurt so bad! The nurse was going to put more stadol in me but I said NO. I didn’t want to be groggy after, I was already TIRED enough.
ADAM JAMES KRAFT’s Birth Story
We went in Wednesday, November 12th for an ultra sound (37 ½ weeks along in the pregnancy). A couple weeks before the due date (11-30-03), the ultra sound showed an extremely low amount of amniotic fluid. It was so low that the doctor and nurses said the baby needed to come into the world right away. The risk of keeping him inside the womb was that the umbilical cord could get kinked. This would cause problems for the baby. They have a medical name for this, but we can’t remember. The baby looked great and nothing was wrong with him at the ultra sound. After many questions and discussion we decided to go into the hospital. The plan was to induce labor, unless the baby decided to come on his own. Spring did not want to be induced!! At 9:30, Wednesday night the doctor inserted a small pill (forgot the name) inside Spring to ripen, or think out, the cervix. At 10:15, Spring started consistent contractions that were not huge or very painful. Some were painful. At that time, she was 2 to 3 centimeters dilated. They checked the cervix again, and Spring was still 2-3 centimeters and thick. Then they came in around 2:00 or 3:00 am, and no more pills inserted because Spring was still having close and consistent contractions. Spring was given Stadol for pain just to take the edge off. Around 9:30 am, Dr. Geer checked Spring and she was 3-4 centimeters and 50 percent thinned out. She inserted another little pill and Spring continued with contractions. At noon, Dr. Geer checked Spring again and she was 70 percent thinned and 4 centimeters dilated. She then came back at 2:00pm and Spring was 4-5 centimeters and 90 percent thinned out. She broke the water at about 2:15pm. Then the strong, hard labor began. They inserted fluid, and a small probe to monitor Spring’s contractions and the baby’s heart rate. We thought that Dr. Geer would be back in about 45 minutes. Spring continued having major contractions until approximately 4:15pm. At 4:15, Spring strongly felt the urge to push the baby out, but had to hold back because the doctor was nowhere to be found. Another 20 minutes went by until Dr. Geer made it and Adam was born at 4:37pm. Spring only ended up pushing for 1-2 minutes. After the delivery, the doctor delivered the placenta, and then after, found and delivered a second placenta. At the beginning of the pregnancy, they originally said we were going to have twins and then around 10 weeks, they could only find the one heartbeat.
Gregory’s labor and delivery was much easier. However, the two weeks after his birth, was very difficult and painful. It seemed to be much different with Adam. The labor was very, very tough though. I am very thankful to have Mom and Brian there with me!! This time I didn’t tear as bad and seemed to feel better besides the after pains and being so very tired.
LUKE SAMUEL KRAFT’S Birth Story
I like to record this information in the boys baby books. I actually refer back to them as reference and its neat to get all the details down! I tried to remember all the info that I could! I had such a great labor/ birth experience this time around. I did it all natural with no pain medication at all, no cervidel
November 15th at 12:19 AM Spring woke with consistent contractions about 15 mins apart for about an hour or two then they started to go down to 10 mins apart. All able to handle at home. About 3:00 they moved down to 7 minsmins apart. Some of those got pretty painful but I really had it set in my head to relax and breathe and that worked! It wasn’t easy but it worked! I was able to walk around some at home, took a bath but our hot water heater must not have been working right cause the water wasn’t hot enough! I sat on my exercise ball and labored some there too. Brian was a huge help timing the contractions and being there with me. Adam woke with an earache at about 4 am, and then 5am, and went back to bed. My Mom came down to the house at about 7:40 am. The boys hung around a while and then headed across the street to Aunt Hope and Uncle Viktor’s house to go to church. My contractions were very consistent. Every once in a while I’d have one that was 7 mins apart. I had called the dr. at 6:30 letting her know I was in labor and how far apart they were (thinking she was in her home in Ojai) but she was actually at the hospital already. She wanted me to go ahead and come in. I told her I’d talk with Brian about it but that I would see her at some point this morning. Guess she didn’t understand that because she was waiting for me at the hospital and called Brian at 9:30 (at home) and was a little annoyed because she thought we were coming on in. We decided to go ahead and head out because they were getting kind of painful and were staying consistently 4-5 mins apart. We arrived at the hospital, parked in the emergency parking lot. Had a contraction on the way to the entrance. Then up to labor and delivery. They got me set up in my room. They put the bands around me for a bit to check heart rate & my contractions. The whole time his little heart rate was perfect! No distress at all! At 10:55 I was 6 cm and 80% thinned out. At one point I had to throw up, which was no fun…. Cause I can’t stand that! Almost worse than labor for me! My contractions were still 5 mins apart. Our Dr. was actually so sweet and just made the experience wonderful. We thought she was gonna be snippy because we didn’t come right in earlier in the morning when she thought we were, but she was wonderful. So caring! Much better than my other birth experiences with the other dr.! Also all the nurses were so great!
At 12:10 I was 7 cm and 100% thinned out. Luke Samuel was still pretty high up in there and needed to drop. She broke my water, which was fine with me at this point. The contractions started getting really close together and more painful of course. At 12:40 the contractions 2-4 mins apart. They were getting pretty hard! Wow, its hard not to TENSE up with those kinds of pains!! Dr. Barnes said at this point it would be about a ½ hour until he arrived. She was pretty much right on. At 1:15 I had a huge urge to push and they ran in and set up at 1:20, and out he came at 1:24. Only about 4 mins pushing this big guy out! Brian got to cut the cord and the placenta was easy coming out. He was 9 pounds 4 ounces and 22 inches long! Biggest baby I’ve had! I love how I held him right away and got to nurse him. He latched right on and loved eating! They bathed him in the room, weighed him and everything! Love that. Then we moved up to room 718. Brian even got a bed!! I took a shower at 7pm which was nice! I was hanging on with adrenalin I think, because I was shocked to not be more tired! I honestly think doing this all natural had a big thing to do with how I felt after birthing Luke Samuel. And the fact that I was just so ready to go after I had him! Brian and I both hate staying at the hospital! We got to leave 11-16-09 at 1:00 pm. We had to wait on the Pediatrician to do the circumcision
I have to say my coaches were the best ever! Brian early on wasn’t feeling well at all (in the night at home) but God helped him to feel better so he could help me! Brian was so great with me during labor too, helpful with anything I needed. I especially loved the moments we looked eye to eye and he even got me smiling during some really hard labor moments! He’s amazing! Mom was the greatest too. She was right there with me on the other side with a cool cloth in hand and helped me breathe! I could NOT HAVE done this with out them!!
No pain medication! No stitches! Laboring at home too! I was amazed! God is truly glorified. We prayed soooo much for this little guy and for this labor and delivery. God gets all the credit and I’m sooo thankful for our little Luke Samuel Kraft, a little guy we all prayed for for many years!
GIDEON JOSIAH KRAFT’S BIRTH STORY
August 31 at about 9:18 the contractions began. They were about 20 mins apart and lasting on average about 40 seconds per contraction. Adam woke with “growing pains” at one point in the night. We had to get him a hot water bottle and get him tucked back in bed. I called mom to give her the heads up so she would know that I thought I was in labor. I called Robyn the midwife at 11:51 to let her know I was in labor. I started getting longer contractions and closer together around 2:30 am. Had some really painful ones and I kept having to go into the bathroom all through the night it seemed. I didn’t get any sleep through the night because contractions seemed so close all night and I didn’t have time to sleep in between.
Close to 3:30 AM I Called Mom (who wanted me to keep her in the loop since she was going with us to the birth center) and she thought I needed to go ahead and call the midwife. My contractions at this time were staying close to 5 mins apart and lasting 1 1/2 minutes. Called Robyn and she wanted me to go ahead and head into the Birth Center. Viktor came over to sleep on the couch while our boys slept.
Didn’t seem to take long to get to the Birth Center (30 mins) I was having consistent contractions the whole way there. Got in and got settled. Robyn & Renee checked me and I was 8 cm already. Decided to get into the tub to try laboring in the warm water. That really actually felt good and made the contractions somewhat easier for me. I’d say I was in there over an hour. When I got out I was a 10 CM and pretty much ready to go. My bag of water was still in-tacked. They tried a couple times to break it but weren’t able to. Part of the membrane was very close to his little head. We found out later that they broke the first layer but not the second. At 10 cm he was still pretty high so it wasn’t like my pushing with the other boys. I actually had to work a little more to get him down and out! I’d guess I was pushing for 25-30 mins. I sat on the toilet for some of the pushing and then moved to the bed. Once I got him moved down, that last push was super fast and he came out fast. I’d say I had about 6 good pushes maybe. Brian was able to have a hand in catching him with Robyn (midwife). He came right up to my belly. Soon Brian cut the chord and I delivered the placenta. I really wonder if I had them pop my water when I was 8cm if it all would have happened a lot quicker (like my Luke Birth). I have a feeling it would have 🙂
Gideon Josiah Kraft was born at 7:44 AM on September 1, 2011 (sharing his birthday with Grandpa Kevin Kraft, how special!) He’s a sweet little bundle of joy and we love him dearly. He weighed in at only 7 lbs 12 ozs. 21 1/2 inches long.
We got to cuddle him for a long while, then I got up to shower. Didn’t need stitches! No pain meds! Such a change from having a hospital birth. Brian went to a local place that serves breakfast to pick us all up something yummy. It was sooo good. I was starving! After that, we got ready to head out. After pictures, and gathering up our things we headed home by 11:00 Can you believe that? Heading home after giving birth only 3 hrs prior.
It hadn’t even been a week since we looked into the Birth Center and the going the mid-wife route. We were very pleased and it all worked out so wonderfully! It was nice working with people who know and love the Lord as well. Makes a big difference for us. The whole experience was just so wonderful. It was a whirlwind to me just thinking how fast it all happened.
Joy to the World Titus Glenn is born
When Donna arrived, Spring was measuring at 5cm. Spring continued to labor some in the bath tub, some on the ball, and some in the bed. At 5:56PM Spring got on the bed and Donna broke Spring’s water after she was measuring 8-9 cm. Spring pushed and 7 minutes later at 6:03PM and after she pushed through 2-3 contractions, Titus was born at 6:07PM. The last push was very, very fast. So active labor was really only a couple hours! Crazy how fast it was!
It was intense at the end. That last push was crazy fast! It was just a miraculous feeling. Brian kinda sideways caught him and put him up on my chest. We waited a while and then he got to cut the chord. What a Happy Father’s Day to gain a fifth son. No tearing for Spring. Spring got up to shower before the boys came to visit. All the boys were down at Pop and Granma’s house with the family enjoying a huge Prime Rib dinner. Hope brought the boys up to see their new brother. Everyone was so excited about Titus Glenn. The boys got to see Titus getting weighed. 8 lbs 7 oz and he was 20 ¾ inches
Peter, Tracy & family got to peek in and meet Titus right after he was born before they headed home. Hope popped over and held him while we ate our prime rib dinner. After pains have been intense but healing has been quick.
Big THANKS to Brian & my Mom for being there and helping me with this labor. A big thanks to Donna my midwife and her assistant! It was a neat experience to have him at home!
ANNIE MAE MARION KRAFT
Well she wasn’t a SUPER BOWL baby after all (this year anyway…) like I was predicting. However we did several things to induce labor that day and at 3:00 AM (Feb 2nd) things started to happen. Consistent contractions came on. They didn’t let up. They were pretty average for 6-10 min apart lasting 35 seconds each for a while. Then they started to last a minute to a minute and 1/2 and got stronger. It helped so much to sit on my exercise ball during the harder contractions and my coach and awesome hubby Brian was an awesome back massager during the contractions! I did have to throw up once. That’s the worst! Had some bloody show at one point, a sign things are working right. The boys got ready for school and left with Hope before 8:00. Brian laid Titus down for his nap 8:00-10:00. Donna the midwife showed up just as I was going to labor a bit in the bath, around 8:30. She checked me and I was 7-8 CM I decided to get in the bath to go through a couple contractions. They started getting harder. I was only in the bath 15 mins. When I got out of the bath I was 9 CM and she broke my water. I was ready to go. Two big pushes and she was out. 11 minutes of pushing time. It was really fast. Jessica the midwife helper said really my active labor was like 2 hrs if that. Definitely my fastest easiest labor.
Our Sweet baby girl was born on February 2, 2015 at 9:21 AM. God is so amazing to bless us with a beautiful DAUGHTER! I couldn’t have asked for things to go smoother! 8 lbs 5 oz., 21 inches long. She has chunky cheeks but long legs.
Brian was an awesome Birth Coach and he is gonna be great with our little girl. I have a feeling she will be a daddy’s girl! I was so glad my Mom was here to be with me during our birth. She held my hand and helped me through a lot and she was helpful with Titus during labor as well. I am thankful Hope came to get Gideon and Adam to drop them off at school. That was super helpful and she picked Luke up a little later to play with Matthew. She brought them home later to meet the Annie Mae. My midwife Donna and her helper Jessica are awesome! They were only here a short time before she was actually born.
We love her name Annie Mae Marion. I wanted to use Marion in as one of the middle names because that is my Mom’s name and I really wanted to honor her with that. We loved Mae and really love calling her ANNIE MAE.
Annie Mae shares a birthday with my Great Great Uncle Jack Mauldin. He was one of my Grandmothers (my Dads Mom) brothers. They both were born on GROUNDHOG day!! Isn’t that cute?!