Birth Announcements

Welcome little Jack Isaac Joseph and Edward Jackson Earnest
Read on and celebrate with us!

Brent and Kathryn Joseph
 are pleased to announce the birth of their precious first baby

Jack Isaac Joseph
Born May 2, 2009
He entered the world at 9:23 pm
weighing 8 lbs 14 oz, 21 1/4 in "tall"

By Kathryn Joseph, Mommy of Jack
Kathryn is a Doula / CE Charis student
She took a small break to give birth to her little Jack.

My labor began early Thursday morning, the day before my due date. I saw my midwife, Robyn Mattox, that morning and she said I was definitely in early labor and also 3-4 cm dilated. I was so excited that I was going to meet my baby soon! I made arrangements for my mom to fly down that day so she could be there for the birth. Little did we know, this early labor part would take days.

Contractions continuously built over the next 48 hours. Saturday morning they were so intense and were happening every 5-7 minutes for a full minute. The contractions were very much focused in my lower back. I spoke with my doula and she told me I should get a chiropractic adjustment because the baby was posterior. After days of labor and lots of pain in my back, hearing that I was still in early labor was not very encouraging.

My husband called our wonderful chiropractor,  Cynthia Gabaldon and  Robyn Mattox, our awesome midwife. We all met at our birth center,  (The Birth Place located in Orlando, FL), an hour later. Cynthia started going to work on my lower back/pelvis and within minutes of the adjustment, I could literally feel the baby turn in between contractions.

Brent holding his laboring wife while  Chiropractor Cynthia Gabaldon, adjusts Kathryn's back.
If you live in the Orlando, FL area and want an awesome pregnancy-skilled Chirporactor, visit Cynthia's site.

This was so encouraging! About four hours later I began pushing, and seven minutes after that my baby was born. I was so thankful the pushing was quick because the early and active labor part was very long. My midwife brought him directly onto my bare chest and he stared right at me without making a noise. I stared back at him for a couple seconds then said, "There's something wrong! He's too still!!!" They said he was fine and breathing, he was just really peaceful. We kept staring at each other until I flipped him over to breastfeed for the first time. He successfully latched on immediately, it was just a wonderful feeling!

We named him Jack, after my dad. Jack weighed a healthy 8 lbs 14 oz when he was born. My midwife commented that his umbilical cord was very strong and healthy, same with the placenta. I was so thankful to hear this! I worked hard throughout my pregnancy to change my eating habits and also exercise more. This was the fruit of my labor! Regardless of how difficult my birth was, it was beyond rewarding to have my child come into the world with such peacefulness.

Now, two weeks later, he is such a good baby! He sleeps for at least six hours at night and has an all around happy demeanor. I am so thankful to God for blessing me and my husband with this child.

Ahhhh, so peaceful!

Mommy and Daddy Love
 

Daddy Love

Edward Jackson Earnest (‘Jack’)

Born February 24, 2009
He entered the world at 3:32  am
weighing 6 lb 10 oz

Jack is welcomed by parents Catherine and Kenny Earnest, and siblings Margaret and Christopher. They birthed their baby at St. Francis Hospital with Leslie Fehan, CNM  and Charis Doula, Rachel Thompson attending their birth. The hospital is in Midlothian, Virginia (a suburb of Richmond, VA).

Margaret and Christopher meeting their new little brother, Jack

Catherine and Kenny Earnest adoring their new precious blessing, little Jack.

Daddy and baby Jack
 

Mommy and baby Jack