I wish to say at the outset, though it will be obvious, that this will require both a mother’s and a father’s point of view…first, because the participation at the end is so very different; but also, because even given equal settings, men and women tend to think of things so differently.    So this will be a record, in chronological order, of my memories combined with my journal accounts, of the births of each of our seven natural children.

Emily Birth Memories

June 26^th

Jeanne is now nearly two weeks overdue.  This has been a trying pregnancy for her. She has had some hard labor pains the last 24 hours, but nothing consistent enough to get her going.  She has been a good girl through it all…her attitude has been wonderful.

July 3^rd

It was just a short time after the preceding entry was made that Jeanne began to have close, hard

labor.  I took her to the hospital at approx.. 6:30 (p.m.), where she was instructed that the delivery was still some hours away.  Slightly discouraged we decided to visit my family in Orem.  After chatting there a few hours, during which pains got closer, we drove home.  Upon arrival, Jeanne determined that we ought to go to the hospital for a final check.  The nurse this time told her that she was far enough along to be admitted if she desired.  We mulled it over and decided to go for a walk.

We had been walking just a few minutes when pains came uniformly two minutes apart, and much more pronounced.  We hustled her back to the hospital, and the nurse began to prepare her. 

The next hour was one of frustration for Jeanne, and the pains became exceedingly intense, and she feared she might have to go through this for several hours.  It helped her considerably when the doctor arrived, and informed her as to what she could expect.  It was only about 20 minutes thereafter, after a few good thrusts, that Jeanne delivered our second beautiful baby girl (12:45 a.m. or so), an 8 lb. 12 oz. 21.5 “ bundle  of joy.

Things haven’t been perfect since…nursing isn’t easy…but it has been a great experience.  Jeanne’s attitude has been commendable.  Her mother has been here since Wednesday, but left tonight.  She was of immeasurable assistance.