River Morgan Jenkins Has Arrived! - The Next Big Adventure

There are some feelings in life that just cannot be explained. Tuesday afternoon Kari and I felt an unexplainable feeling.
Tuesday, January 27^th at 1:31 PM, River Morgan was born. That was the climax of an exciting evening and morning. At around 10 Monday night, Kari and I were at River’s Godparent’s house (Jim & Choyer) and Kari starting having what she called “sensations”. She neglected to tell anyone because she didn’t want to get anyone too exciting incase it was a false alarm. Her and I went home that evening and she told me she was feeling them pretty regularly. So we began to time them and they were around 10 minutes apart. We took a shower and got Kari into bed so she could try and rest and see what came of the morning.
5 AM rolls around and the surges are keeping Kari awake at this point. We call our midwife Pamela and she tells us that this could go on for days or even weeks, that it could just be the baby dropping into place. So, as instructed, we try and lay back down for a bit and call her later in the morning.
7 AM rolls around and Kari and I are up, moving about, trying to have something to eat because neither one of us could sleep. Kari from the contractions and me from the excitement/nervousness of what I knew was happening. We called Pamela and she said to come on down for a check, but to take our time. So I “took my time” and hurried to get a shower and get the car packed up.
We got to the birthing center sometime around 10 or 10:30 AM. Pamela told Kari and rest sleep after she got checked because this could go on into the night. Turns out she was 3 centimeters dilated. So Kari layed down and I sat in a chair beside the bed to wait it out all day. Kari did a wonderful job of breathing through the surges. She didn’t make a sound all morning.
An hour and a half passes and Kari starts complaining that she has to poop, but she’s not sure if she’s allowed to. I run next door (the midwife lives 30 feet from the front door of our birthing cabin.) and get Pamela. She checks Kari and she is at 8 centimeters already! Kari and I looked at each other and were stunned. So Pamela calls her midwife team and tells them to hurry on over because things are beginning to progress. Our doula’s hadn’t even made it down yet!
30 minutes later, as Pamela was preparing the medical supplies, Kari started complaining of wanting to push. Pamela checked her and she was at 9.5 cm! She wasn’t allowed to push just yet though. So Kari held it in, staying as calm as possible, and breathing through the contractions. She sounded like the ocean waves crashing against the shore.
Pamela’s midwife assistant, Jen, showed up and helped Pamela finish preparing. Before Jen showed up it was just Pamela and I. I looked at Pamela and said “just tell me what to do.” I thought I was going to have to play doctor!
Just a few minutes after measuring at 9.5 cm, Kari starting saying that she had to push, she had to push! So Pamela told her to go ahead. 10 minutes of pushing and the baby was crowning. Finally the other midwife walked in, to her surprise there was almost a baby here already! Another push or so and River Morgan Jenkins had arrived with us here!
The rush of emotions was unexplainable. One minute you are just you, and the next minute there is a physical extension of you laying next to you. Amazing.

Needless to say, he is beautiful! He is feeding, sleeping, and obviously pooping! I’m sure you will be seeing a lot of him on this blog, but here are some pictures of him from the first day and a half of his wonderful life.

First Moments

Getting a little fresh air

Mom and Dad cannot express the joy!



Dad holding River...(I was really nervous, but it came naturally!)

Kari doing what she now knows best! Loving our baby boy.

Our Midwives: Stacie Hunt, Jennifer Albanese, Pamela Hunt (left to right)

Our Friends and Doulas, Maranda Alford and Jolynn Lewis



Mom showing River a picture of his big sister...Chaco


Our little Muscle Man!



Showing Off



First Diaper Change



Cute!


**Note: More updates will follow. It is 2:38 AM, beginning his 5th day of life. We are just now getting around to posting pictures because we did not have internet access at the birthing center. Keep checking back for more adventures and pictures of River!**