I just really have to say that I have a whole new understanding now of how big an experience having a baby is! I had no idea of what moms have just been through and the recovery afterwards and the adrenaline and then needing to sleep. With my other two girls, having adopted them more traditionally, I could receive my babies and go shopping the same day if I wanted to. Not so, this time! It is hard to get up from the bed or couch and then you have to walk slow. But it is already getting better.
Here is Ayla's birth story.
First of all, I had prayed that my water would break to begin labor so that I could be sure it was the real thing when I called family to start traveling our way. And that is exactly what happened. I had just gone to sleep and about a half hour later at midnight, there was a strange sound in my belly like three taps and then my first contraction started. Although, I did not know it was a contraction. I thought it was some cramps telling me I needed to go to the bathroom. So, I went. And five minutes later, the same thing happened and then five minutes after that. So, I was thinking that this was not normal. Usually you go to the bathroom once and feel better. So, then Toby wakes up from the lamp I just turned on in our bedroom and asks when I am going to turn off the light. I tell him that I think it might be starting. He is instantly awake. Are you sure? No, I am not sure. Let me just wait a few more minutes and see what happens. So, I go to the bathroom again and not only go #2 again, but there is fluid in the toilet that must be amniotic fluid.
So, we end up getting to the hospital about 1 AM. "Aunt" Sandy came over to be with our girls. Sienna was wide awake when we left. (Poor Sandy!) My parents were on their way. Oh, and Toby went through a red light on our way. There was no traffic and he was nervous. My contractions were about 3 minutes apart at that point. I told him to just drive normal. It would take longer to get there if we had to stop and explain things to a policeman than just to drive normal. Oh, and we only live less than 10 minutes from the hospital!
Most of you know that I read the book Supernatural Childbirth and was believing for as painless a labor and delivery as possible. Well, I really need to give God glory. He really met me where I was. I knew going into labor that my faith was not up to completely pain free, but it was up to having a good experience and having it not be very painful and I was believing for a fast labor and delivery. My first contractions at the hospital found me scared, facing the unknown for me. So, I gripped the pillow each time and wiggled my feet to get through them. I was very uncomfortable. Then I decided to pray and speak out quietly what I had learned from the book and believe God's Word. So, I began that and also set my mind to visualize what my body was doing with each contraction, pushing my baby down for me. And let me tell you what a difference that made for me. I told the nurse that they were getting easier and she said she had never heard of that before! Oh, and I also got out of that bed. I ended up sitting in the glider rocking chair the rest of the time and just concentrating on relaxing with each contraction and having faith.
When they checked me the first time after being there a little while, I was dialated to 5 or 6 cm. When they checked me the next time, I was to an 8 and the nurse was shocked because of how calm I still was. It was very, very encouraging to know that progress was being made. That was a faith booster. A lot of people had told me that I would reach a place where I would feel like a I couldn't handle it anymore, but when I would find out that I was dialated so much already, I thought to myself, "If this is as hard as it is going to be, I can do this!" Thank you, God, for being faithful to Your Word! So, the next check brought me to 9 1/2 cm. There was just a lip of the cervix holding on. So, they let me push to see if that would get that out of the way and it did.
Now the pushing part was what I was a little afraid of. Do you push with the contractions? I didn't know any of this. We didn't go to any lamaze classes. So, then when they told me to push with the contractions, oh man, did that feel good! Pushing for me was definitely better than trying to relax through the contractions. The pushing didn't hurt at all. It was such a relief as probably many of you would agree with me. I no longer had to feel the contractions, but could use my muscles. They had me pushing two different ways. One was the traditional way on the bed with your legs pulled up, then the other was with the trapeze bar where you are squatting like a sumo wrestler and using gravity with your legs and arm strength. I really liked that, but then my legs got tired and I switched back to the other way, then back again.
Then the wonderful nurse told me that the baby has dark hair like mommy! Yay, we are getting there. They brought the mirror for me and I could see her head slowly being pushed out with each contraction. This part was a lot of work to move her so little. Then they said probably only a couple more contractions, which was hard to believe. Then the learning doctor was told to do something which required him to pull on my lining. That didn't feel good. Then on the push where she was coming, they said to push some more. I really concentrated and I think that I closed my eyes and missed her grand appearance. They announced that we had a little girl! We loved being surprised! Another precious daughter! We were thrilled!
Toby was such a wonderful support to me. During my scared contractions at the beginning, he was rubbing my back. Then when I asked him to pray, he was praying. My parents showed up 2 hours before I delivered. My dad was in there for my contractions, then when the pushing came, it was Toby and my mom in there with me. They both helped hold my legs with each contraction. I was so thankful to have my mom there in time. I could see her praying under her breath. And Toby was praying in his head! I was so proud of my husband. He has a sensitive stomach, but he was right there holding my legs and being a quiet support. The only weak-kneed moment was when Ayla actually came out. He had to sit down and drink some juice to not pass out. But then he was back by my side in a few minutes. He made me feel so good as he said that he would have gotten the drugs and how strong I was. But I know without the Lord, I wouldn't have been able to do it.
From beginning to end, it was 7 and a half hours. I only pushed for an hour. But that was long enough. My body was getting tired. I delivered her the traditional way as my arms and legs couldn't squat anymore.
My dad was supposed to be in the waiting room, but he kept coming back outside the doors of the delivery room. He got in trouble twice from the nurses! But that is just a replay of my birth. He wasn't allowed in the deliery room either and almost got kicked out of the entire hospital!
It was a wonderful experience. I am glad that it is over and our precious little girl is here! What a miracle it all was and is!
Oh, and the nurse told me later that in her 23 years of nursing she has never seen a birth like that. I wasn't quite sure what she meant, but she explained she meant how calm and in control I was. I knew in my heart where that came from!
