Today is my son Benjamins third birthday.

Ben talking to Grandma on the phone during his party
His birth was such a triumph for me as a woman. After doing my own prenatal care, and going 42 weeks and THREE days during gestation, Ben was born at home into the hands of his father.
Many people in my personal life were surprised that we chose to have a second unassisted birth after our fourth birth, which resulted in a transfer to the hospital. I had people say things to me like…”doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is a sign of insanity…”
But I am more of a “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”…sort of person. And how wonderful for our family to attempt a home birth quietly in the sanctity of our own home, and to have the birth go perfectly!
The circumstances of Ben’s birth were evidence enough for me that our choice not to hire a Colorado Lay Midwife was the correct choice. My water broke three days (exactly 72 hours) before I went into labor, and so Ben was born three days past the 42 week marker which Colorado law says is the limit for Midwifery care. Both of those situations would have forced a Midwife to transfer my care over to an OB.
We gave birth in our bedroom alone. Paul sang sacred hymns to me through the most difficult part of my labor, and it was perfect… Here are some pictures, from the days around the birth, and from our celebrations today.

Ben three days old

Jenny holding Benjamin – with my massage therapists Amy and Wendy. These gals provided the bulk of the pre and post natal care that I paid for out of pocket. I used Wendy for prenatal massage, and Amy took over as my post partum doula for the final week of my pregnancy and the six weeks after the birth. Total cost for this care was about seven thousand dollars, and it was worth every penny…

We had a Lotus Birth with Ben, which means we did not cut his umbilical cord. We just kept him attached to his placenta until it detached on its own when he was six days old.

Ben one week old

Ben with our family – one week old

Ben with Shelly Dec. 2002

Happy Birthday! Candles in Ben’s pancakes

Ben takes a picture of Mom with her hiking Buddy

Beautiful Boulder Valley in Fall colors – we enjoyed a wonderful hike today with our friend Lauren and her daughter Aria

Ben in front of a tree in fall colors

Hiking in the foothills of the Flatirons in Boulder

All Ben wanted for his birthday was a bunch of balloons. He also requested pasta for supper with corn on the cob and a cake, of course. I also made a huge apple crisp for dessert. It was a fun party!

Benjamin opening his presents