Introducing Ruby Ann Bigelow!

Our second daughter, Ruby Ann, was born Friday, May 11th 2012 at 5:05 am. I did a home-birth again. If it wasn't for all the extreme pain and suffering, I could sit here and say that it was just an "amazing" experience. It was a great experience, but very painful and very long. Everyone had told me "oh the second time around labor will be much shorter. Your body knows what to do this time around". I think having the expectation of a shorter labor made it harder during labor to accept the fact that yes, I was STILL in labor at midnight....at 2 am...at 3 am...at 4 am, and finally, 5 am.

But I did enjoy the home birth experience. I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't stand the thought of having hospital staff that are strangers to me coming in and out of my room, or being hooked up to monitors and being required to have an IV and lay on my back. I love being in my own environment, controlling who belongs there and who does not. I like having my own bedroom, bathroom, and my own clothes, music, and low-lighting. I like having my own "labor food" (protein smoothies, pears, yogurt). I discovered that movement in labor really helps the baby progress.

My doula was invaluable to me. If it wasn't for a doula, I don't think I could have dealt with the pain. She is awesome. She doesn't even have to ask what I need, she inherently knows what I need and just jumps in.

I also couldn't have done it without warm water. People can't believe I don't have pain medication. Pain relief. What they don't understand is warm water IS pain relief. I am thankful I had the warm birth pool and warm showers.


Our baby didn't have a name for 3 days. That 3 days felt like an entire week, because everyone was in amazement I didn't choose the name yet. Todd bribed me with 6 dozen cookies if I would decide on the name by Monday May 14th by midnight. That was the deadline. I chose the name Monday morning at 6 am, when no one else was awake. Ruby Ann. Ann for three women: Deanna, Annette, and Ann. The first name was between Ruby and Olivia, and it was a hard choice. I knew Todd really liked Olivia and he had been calling her Olivia the whole pregnancy. But the day she was born, she looked more like a Ruby to me. Hence the dilemma for 3 days of what to call her. But we all seem happy with the name Ruby. I love her SO much. She is so sweet and bright-eyed.