Here, finally are some photos of Emily as well as her birth story! Sorry about the delay. My motherboard crashed on my main computer, so I had to wait until I got a new one to post. I lost all my actions and haven’t had a chance to get them back into Photoshop yet, so these are all pretty much straight out of camera (with the exception of the black and whites, of course!).
Emily Mikaela Mai Vuong
Born March 28, 2011 at 5:55AM
Emily’s birth happened really fast. The night before, I told Vu I was having Braxton Hicks. He timed them and said, “They’re every 5 minutes. Should we call your midwife?”
“No. They don’t hurt at all.”
I fell asleep to Shawn Gallagher’s Hypnosis for Childbirth CD,which I’d been falling asleep to for the past month or so.
I woke up at 4:20AM needing to go the bathroom, but also having cramps.
I started worrying thinking, “Gee, I don’t want to have this baby on the toilet. I better time these in case they’re contractions.” I checked the microwave clock. They were mild, but coming every 4 minutes. I called my midwife.
She timed them and said, ” You are probably in the early stages of labour.” “They are only lasting 10 seconds.”
“How long was your last labour?”
“6 hours.”
” I better come and check you. You were GBS +, so I need to come and give you the antibiotics anyway.”
I agreed.
I woke Vu up at around 4:50 AM. I actually felt a little bad for calling my midwife, Mahnaz, since I thought it could be awhile longer. Mahnaz arrived around 5:05. She asked me if Tatyana, the student midwife (who had just started with the clinic last week) could check me, but said she would also need to check me. I said I would prefer only one check. I had a few contractions (but not many), then she checked me.
Her expression changed as she said, “Danielle, I don’t believe this. You are 9 centimetres. Don’t push. Vu-get the receiving blankets” She ran to her car to get her birthing kit.
Tatyana arrived (in what would be her first ever homebirth, as she is from Ukraine and they don’t do homebirths there).
My mom came as I had called her right after I woke Vu up. It was 5:30AM.
I told my midwives I wanted to push. I had to wait until they got the antibiotics into me. I told Mahnaz I was really itchy. She told me later that she had Benadryl just in case, but decided to concentrate on getting the baby out, since there were 2 of us to worry about-me and the baby (the right decision as the itching went away).
When they finished the antibiotics, I started to push.
I did the first 2 pushes with my face, then Mahnaz explained how I need to push farther down and my mom said to push in the shape of a J.
I pushed and my water broke. There was meconium.
They said, “Call the paramedics now. It was only a little bit, so hopefully it is ok, but we need to call them” (I wonder if they said that so I would be more calm).
My mom left the room to do that. Then they said, “Level 3, ask for level 3.“ Vu left the room to tell my mom to ask for Level 3 as I pushed. I was highly motivated, since I knew meconium could be dangerous. Then they shouted out, “Cancel the paramedics.” She had already come out! After only 7 minutes of pushing. It was 5:55AM. My mom and Vu were in the kitchen when she came out. They did the cord blood retrieval.
Everything happened so quickly!
She weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz. and her head circumference was 37.5 cm. Somehow, I did not tear (but the after pains were probably worse than labour).
Julia woke up around 8AM and wanted to give her a stuffed lamb, then asked to cuddle her. She was pretty excited to be a big sister!
Emily was born at home at 5:55AM just one day before my birthday on March 28, 2011. We were very happy she held out that long, as I had threatened preterm labour at 29 1/2 week and lived at Sunnybrook for just over 2 weeks. She came at 39 weeks, 4 days-exactly the same as her sister!
Emily gets weighed in the fish scale midwives use. We were very surprised that she was 8 lbs, 2 oz! We thought she looked about 6 pounds. It’s amazing how quickly you forget how small newborns are. My mom took this photo. I’m glad I showed her how to use my camera!
Emily just before getting dressed for the first time. Somehow, I managed to take this photo right after giving birth.
Mahnaz and Tatyana get her dressed.
Julia wakes up about 2 hours after Emily is born. This was how she reacted upon first seeing Emily.
Julia asked if she could cuddle her baby sister.
My post-birth breakfast.
Julia insisted on wearing this pink dress. I guess she knew it was a special day!
My birthday is the day after Emily’s birthday. We still managed to celebrate with a little cake. Another image by my mom.
Julia wanted to kiss Emily.
Emily reacts to her big sister kissing her.
Here she is! We were surprised by how much hair she has.
She sleeps a lot. Thank goodness for that!
We decided to start putting her in her crib for naps, since when we started putting Julia in the crib when she outgrew the bassinet she wailed. Emily seems quite content in the crib so far.
Our little bunny.
You have to love a sleeping newborn!
Newborns are like little angels.
Look at all that hair!
Happy baby bunny.
In the pea pod.
Surprisingly, she fit into this doll bed.
Photos with daddy.
Julia made this for Emily with help from an older friend. She was so proud of it, she stuck it on the fridge herself!
Check out the fabulous maternity photos Amber Williams took just a couple of weeks before I gave birth!
https://amberrichmond.com/2011/03/danielles-maternity-shoot/
Emily is really lovely baby. i can not wait to hold her. Kiss her for me.
Danielle! Quelle belle histoire! It brought tears to my eyes reading this beautiful story. The loving energies carried all the way to PEI. Congrats to you, Vu and Julia!!!!
We LOVE the “baybee”!! Julia is such a sweet sister. Gorgeous photos.xox
I feel very lucky to have been a part of this beautiful event! Emily is happy, healthy and perfect in every way, and Julia is so loving and thrilled to be a big sister. Congratulations Danielle and Vu on another great achievement!
GORGEOUS!!! ALL of your family members are stunning!! Welcome baby Emily!! Such a sweet set of images to welcome your newest bundle!
Danielle, She is just beautiful! Congratulations! Your pictures are just gorgeous! I can’t wait to meet her!
Danielle, thank you for sharing these incredible beautiful images of your family. June
Congratulations Danielle and Vu!! Emily is absolutely gorgegeous! It’s wonderful to hear that she is happy, healthy and perfect in every way. Stunning pictures but to be honest I expected nothing less 🙂 Thank-you for sharing your experience and pictures of the family. I hope to see you soon!
congrats danielle lovely birth story what a fast labour thats awesome! I’m glad the baby came out so fast and that you weren’t rushed to the hospital!!
congrats to you and your family hope everyone is doing well!
Wonderful story and pictures. Congratulations! All the best to you all. Anita
Congratulations! She is so beautiful! That is amazing how fast she came! The photos are wonderful, I love the one with the angel wings! We are so excited to meet her soon!
Congratulations, Danielle and Vu! Emily is a beautiful addition to the family. I hope things are settling down and you’re getting into some good routines :0)
Congratulations Dani & Vu!! What a beautiful and sweet little girl!!! I’m very glad everything went smooth and quick for the delivery and one day before your own birthday too 🙂 Julia must be so excited and looks like she’s already getting in to her big sister role. The picture of Julia holding Emily is so precious.
Thank you for sharing your lovely story and pictures.
We now need to see all four of you in a family portrait.
Hope to see you very soon 🙂
really awesome post!! thanks for sharing.
GREAT pics too!!
Danielle congratulations to the whole family. You are all looking wonderful on the big day of Emily’s birth, and I look forward to seeing how the family evolves, especially the two sisters. Big hugs and hope to see you soon and meet Emily.
What a fascinating story, there was some work involved! Congratulations Danielle and Vu! And Julia looks very happy, too. I hope I see you all soon. Michael
What a story girl! That is so amazing. Julia must be super happy that now she has someone to cuddle with and soon to play. Congrats again to both and your mom! Great pics!
Mayra
Oh Danielle, she is adorable! Her big sister looks like she is ready to help out. So cute! I have 2 girls as well – LOVE IT!
Wow………….words can’t express what a beautiful family you have. The pictures say it all!!! AND MORE…Treasure the moments…….God Bless, Joanne (Your Mother’s friend).