Welcome to the world Emerson Friberg!!!!

Emerson Friberg was born on Saturday, 28 May 2011 at 3:04am weighing in at 6lbs 12.5oz. 19 3/4 inches!!!!

My due date was June 2nd and I was confident that I would not be early... but I was 5 days early just like my mom was with me.

Friday, May 27th, at about 4am, I started feeling awful back aches. I woke Morgan up because they hurt so bad. He gave me a back rub and went back to bed. Another hour went by until I started feeling contractions. I woke Morgan up again and we went to the living room to start timing the contractions. We called my doctor at about 11:30am and were told to go to the birth center at Mills Peninsula Hospital. Once we arrived at the hospital, they said it was up to us if we wanted to stay or leave. However, when they monitored my contractions, they noticed that the baby's heart rate was decelerating. Therefore, they advised that we stay at the hospital.  Let the fun begin!

Morgan's parents had planned to fly into town on Friday and go to a party on Saturday night and stay here until the birth. Morgan called his folks and they arrived at the hospital straight from the airport at around 2pm. By 4pm I was 4cm dilated. 

Since I planned on a natural, non-medicated birth, I hired a fantastic doula, Kelly Gray. Kelly arrived around 5pm. She came equipped with all of her labor tools. Morgan and Kelly were amazing. I was all over the place and trying multiple positions to deal with the contractions (tub, birth ball, squats, partner slow dance, counter pressure techniques, massages, breathing techniques etc). I was pretty much everywhere but the bed! We dimmed the lights in the room, had awesome music (Manu Chaou, the Avalanches, Zepplin, the Beta Band) and fake candles to keep it mellow. My parents came up around 7:30ish.

At about 10pm they checked me again and I was at 7cm. This was very disappointing since I thought I was already at 10cm because of the pain level. The doctor asked if I wanted my water broke since that would help speed things along. Once she broke my water, my labor pains kept getting worse and worse. My body started telling me to push just before 2am. Emerson was born at 3:04am. When they put him on my chest I was in absolute awe. I still am. I can't even attempt to describe the feeling... its magic. It was so amazing to have both Morgan's parents and my parents at the hospital to meet Emerson right after birth.

Kelly and Morgan got me through the most intense labor pains and helped me accomplish my goal on having a natural birth.  I couldn't have gone through natural labor without their support and encouragement. I feel like a stronger person because of it.