Cohen Daniel Friess

My son, a blondie, just like Myah

He has Haven's lips and eyes
Beautiful profile

Some chunk too, just what I wanted
Long feet, almost longer than the footprint ink pad

I had a tremendous birthing experience. I've spent the past couple years learning lots about natural birthing. I decided to go nearly all the way, meaning I didn't deliver at home. I chose to use no drugs but did hypnotherapy and a water birth instead. It was truly amazing.

Considering Haven's labor was six and a half hours and Myah's was only three and a half hours, I was expecting Cohen's to be quick too. Had you told me that it would last nearly three times longer than Haven's I would have laughed, but it was the most incredible eighteen hours of my life. Being able to experience each stage of labor was remarkable.

Play by play:

• Contractions started at 8:00pm Saturday evening
• Arrived at hospital at 5:30am Sunday - dilated to a 1.5cm
• Walked the halls for an hour - dilated to a good 3+cm
• They admitted me and settled into my room
• We had aromatherapy, sound-therapy, and my hypnotherapy setting the prefect mood
• I labored in bed, the tub, on the ball, and walked the halls
• Haven, Myah, and Grandma Sharon joined in at 11:00am for a few rounds
• By 2:30pm I was at 6cm
• At 3:00pm the midwife broke my water and I was at 8cm
• I got in the birthing tub and spent the next 45 minutes working with Cohen to birth him
• The environment couldn't have been better
• Haven and Myah entered the birthing room as soon as he was lifted out of the water
• He weighed 8lbs 13oz and was 21 inches
• He was born at 3:47pm
• Our family spent some precious moments together by ourselves

I had one nurse the entire time, she was great. My midwife Kathleen was amazing. Dan was the best, he loved it too. The hypnotherapy made the birthing experience truly enjoyable, call me and I'd love to tell you all about it. Here are a couple photo's of our new boy.