It doesn't feel like it actually happened. I don't feel like I just gave birth. My body, although still on the heavier side of my normal, feels like nothing ever happened. My hormones are back on track and things seem to be running smoothly. I look at pictures of Ali, Ben and Logan and it feels like I am looking at good friends and their new baby and it makes me smile. There really isn't any lingering feeling of loss. My doula gave me some pictures of the birth at my "Surrogate shower" and I just LOVE to look at them. Although the birth was breathtakingly painful I still remember it with such fondness. It was an experience that I feel so blessed and honored to have gone through. So here are a few of the photo's I have. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Ali's hands on her son 5 days before we met him.
Me and my mom (who was my nurse for the birth). The is after the second dose of the cintocin gel was administered and we were contemplating whether or not I should leave or stay.
Having a contraction... I was starting to have to concentrate on them. I think I was 4cm's at this point.
We left and came back and had my membranes ruptured and called Ali to come now. This was my second to last non-pushing contraction.
It was hard to keep focus on what we were doing. For me this was the final challenge before the end. It wasn't the same when you are looking forward to meeting your baby. I can remember clearly what I was thinking in this picture... "this sucks" hahaha
And before I knew it, it was all over and Ali was bringing him back in to meet me :)
What hit me the most was how instantly he was hers.
And from the begining it was all about him.
:)
He is pretty darn cute
I had so many of my great friends come to be with me after the birth. They were my lifeline through this whole journey and I couldn't have done it without them.
I feel so blessed
My moms shift ended just after the birth so she got to hang out with us all too :)
And this is my amazing doula. She doted and on me and spent hours upon hours preparing me for this moment.
I can't believe it's over...
