I don’t know what happened, but this morning I woke up feeling that I have a lot to be grateful for. I said to Jon, “It is good that we don’t live in the 1600s. We don’t have to worry about the baby staying in so long that she stops thriving.” Jon said, “There are a lot of good things about not living in the 1600s.” “Like toilets,” I said.
I really have a lot to be thankful for. Here is a short list:
* I have the best, most supportive and loving husband in the whole world!
* We have a really amazing baby girl in my belly.
* We have incredibly loving and caring friends and family.
* We have good health care: insurance to cover expenses, midwives and doctors whom we trust, and a great “hospital”:http://enh.org/aboutus/visitingus/evanston/ where we’ll give birth.
* Conditions are favorable for me to be induced, if we need to do that: baby’s head is down, cervix is soft and effaced, and I’m starting to dilate.
* I’m still sleeping well, and I have a good appetite, and I haven’t gotten any stretch marks yet.
* We have a great house with bulbs that are blooming in the front yard.
* It is 70 degrees outside.
* We don’t live in the 1600s.
I think it is okay for me to be grumpy these days if I need to be (and I think I *do* need to feel free to be crabby occasionally), but it is also nice to feel thankful. A range of emotions is important at this time in a pregnant woman’s life!
One of the most difficult things about waiting for labor to begin is having no control over the situation. After all the reading I’d done about natural childbirth, I had assumed that I could try lots of the labor-enhancing techniques if I were late and the baby would pop right out. Not true! I’m learning that, no matter how hard you try, sometimes the baby just wants to stay in for awhile longer.
You’d think I would have learned this lesson about not being in control throughout this pregnancy. I thought I had! There is not much we have control over: healthy conception, steady baby growth, avoiding morning sickness — you can do a few things to contribute to their success (like good nutrition), but mainly you just have to trust in the mercy of God.
Last night, Jon reminded me about how the Lord is our shepherd, and he knows his sheep. He knows our Baby Girl intimately, he knows when she should emerge, and we can trust him to care for our family. I’m grateful to serve such a good God!
Greetings Ann,
They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Pregnancy has always been a Lordship issue with me. And each delivery has been different and I can see God’s hand in each one. I started telling people at Christmas ( when I was convinced that Naomi was be early) that I was hoping that I had learned what I needed in each pregnany because did not think that I would be having another baby. I really did get to the point of complete surrender with Naomi…which is what is needed to deliver a baby. Alex and Joseph were a c-section. Charles a 9lb 14oz vbac…..So I kept telling myselg that Naomi was going to be big as well. I walked to a video every morning. I drank so much rasberry tea that I am convinced that the red highlights in her hair are a result of that. The Drs here in Madison are pretty conservative and I did not want to be induced because of another lg. baby…and the whole proven pelvis…..We did see a nurse mid wife….but then had to transfer to a Doc. for delivery…(nurse midwives here cant deliver a vbac) Because of being a vbac…..when I went to the hospital was a big issue….lot less freedom, hooked up to an IV….I so wanted to have a natural delivery with out all the hoo rah rah. I was so hoping that we could hire the nurse mid-wives I had been seeing as a doula….but they were a bit pricey….One morning even that I surrendered to the LORD. Believing that he would be present at any birth and IN CONTROL. With in minutes of surrendering that, the nurse midwives called and agreed to work out a payment plan. Now I knew that I could labor at home until about 6cm and then head for the hospital because a nursemidwife would be with me and could check me.
But then I did not know when I would need to call them, I called with so many questions I thought I was a new mom all over again. By Jan. I was ready to have a baby that was due on the 29th right away. CRAZY…..The boys were eager….then Andy got a new job and I prayed that I would deliver before he started that….and then I prayed that she would come before the scout pinewood derby or before Charles’s b-day. We had a childbirth refresher course and I was still not sure if I would know when to call the midwives….didn’t want to “waste” their time calling to early. I had alot of false labor with Charles…..very intense contractions from about 9pm-6am which would then stop. I was so afraid that would happen again. And that I would be all alone. Who would watch the boys? I prayed for wisdom, for peace, that all of the little things I was doing to help labor along would be effective…..and we all waited. The boys were even disappointed when they woke up and I was still at home. With each passing day I was more and more convinced that I was going to have another 10 lb baby….the dr. was saying other wise. When I went to see her on the 23rd she refused to tell me how far effaced I was ( probably wise as I would have probably checked into the hospital to wait things out). The dr. just said that things were very soft….the baby would just slide out.
With each passing day I would enjoy those little kicks for what could be the last time. I would pray for a lovely birth experience where God was glorified. I prayed that she would be in the perfect position. That I would know when she was coming….
On the eve of her birth we all went to bed early, I had been up quite a bit the night before with strong contractions and was convinced that I would go through the Charles thing again even though the midwives were convinced that would not happen. So when I went to bed I was a bit fearful….Andy prayed and when he was done praying I heard a POP and then felt a gush. I thought my water had broken but found out later it had not…..anyway I called the nursemid-wife for the 2nd time that day . She told me to go to bed and try to get some sleep and that she would do like wise. I was told several times by the midwives that I should call them when I felt I needed support. With Charles I labored 5 days….just me and the LORD….me rocking and praying through every contraction.
Things began to intesify quite quiclky….but with each contraction Andy was there. We moved downstairs and I was even able to “sleep” between contractions…..just before I would have a contraction Naomi would wiggle and I would take a cleansing breath and grab andy’s hand….Still did not think I needed support….In the back of my head I was always thinking is this it …should I call(they had estimated 6 hour labor)…..because Charles’s was about 12 . But a friend had encouraged me to hold everything loosely before God. So even though I had been walking and the tea….this was all in God’s hands. He would give me wisdom. Naomi would not be born at home…which we really did not want…..But I still we was not confident that I would know when to call. At 2:00 am I fell apart……sobbing….convinced that my body was not working that I would call the NM, she would show up and I would be 2cm dilated and that I would have to wait to meet this precious little one….I Cried out for wisdom….Andy was thinking my wife is in transition I need to see when she is going to call the midwife. He nonchlantly asked about 15 minutes later. He was being a great partner and I really did not feel I needed support. But around 3 I decided that it was time to call because even if I still had a long way to go we would need support.
The NM lived just a few miles from us and arrived quickly. When she walked in the door she knew right away that I was “cooking “. She very CLAMLY told me she would like to do an internal exam even though I thought my water had broken…..After one contraction she checked me and calmly told me that I was between 8-9cm. ( I found out later that I was much closer to 9…or even complete….but the NM did not want me to worry) We need to leave now!!! How far is your babysitter… 15min….How far to the hospital…..20 min….but it is foggy and raining. God in his wisdom had prompted our neighbor to give us her cell phone # “incase we had to go somewhere in the middle of the night”. She came right over we called our other sitter….and the nurse midwife helped me in the van telling andy that my water had not broken and if it does or if I felt that I need to push he was to stop the van immediately and she would join him and we would deliver Naomi right there!!!!
The contractions slowed a bit which the NM said they would…..Something about my body knowing that I was soon going to be where I could deliver this baby…..It is a good thing they slowed down a bit because Andy took the bumpiest road in all of madison to get to the hospital and was convinced that he should go down Emerald street when I with clenched teeth was saying that ERIN was where the ER entrance to the hospital was. The one we were to use.
Anyway….we arrived….the nursemidwife parked our van, after putting me in a wheelchair…..Naomi was born at 5:32 am….a beautiful delivery…..20 minutes of pushing. The Dr. was incredible…i was a bit worried as I had never met him…..great team….Andy was wonderful and even though I had performance anxiety while I was pushing….God was faithful.
Being a parent is an incredible thing….and however that happens it is so awesome that God allows us to partner with Him. Enjoy the journey Ann. God has created your body and this baby and “all things work together for good” This little person will arrive soon. We are praying for a safe and speedy delivery. May God be glorified through you and this little one.
Blessings,
Nicole
Nicole, thank you so much for sharing your story. It is so encouraging to me to hear other women’s experiences of giving birth, all the questions that come up in labor, all the lessons learned through it. Your story is incredible! Thank you for sharing this tender memory with us, and thank you for all of your prayers!
Ann