Samuel's Birth Story (Part 1)

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  Psalm 139:13&14

I knew going into this pregnancy that I would most likely deliver "late".  Addison and Eliana both went over their due dates and everyone said "that's just how you carry."  I thought I was prepared to not get my hopes up.  I told everyone all 9 months that I was due mid-September, trying to not even get a due date stuck in my head.  BUT THEN, it (the actual due date) came and went.  The midwives know it, you know it and plans have to be made.  Having 2 energetic, small children at home with you all day doesn't help with the exhaustion and feeling of being very ready to not delay much longer being bigger than normal, tired and emotional.  

On the 16th (official due date was the 11th), I contracted all day.  Nothing major or that stopped me in my tracks, but I felt them as I cooked soup, made a friend a meal, did laundry and continued to clean.  They actually made me happy.  Contractions!  What my body is supposed to be doing at this point.  Contractions!  They'll continue to thin out my cervix and help me dialate.  This was a Thursday and beginning on Saturday, I would be in and out of offices A LOT.  I wanted to NOT be pregnant by Saturday!

I called mom and dad who would have the long trek from Virginia when it was time.  I wanted mom to pray more than anything.  Pray that these contractions would not stop and continue into real and active labor.  Justin prayed.  I prayed.  

But Saturday came and Samuel didn't.  I was met at the hospital by one of my best friends to sit and have a non-stress test.  The test went fine and I asked to be checked - 1 1/2 cm.  No change since my appointment on the previous Tuesday.  They booked another ultrasound for Monday, an office appointment for Monday and another NST for Tuesday.  I cried all the way home.  

This was my third pregnancy!!  Why was this happening?  I was 5 days past due at this point and very discouraged.  I did not look forward to going to church on Sunday and facing everyone STILL being pregnant.

Justin and I talked a lot that weekend and made a plan.  At my appt. on Monday with the midwife, I would just ask if after the non-stress test on Tues at the hospital, if I could have cervidil applied.  This is the gel that works to soften and thin your cervix.  When I got it with Eli, she was born the next day.  We felt pretty confident that this was the route we wanted to go.  This way, I still had flexibility and time for a natural labor before the 2 wk. deadline hit.  This plan excited me!  

At my appt. on Monday, my midwife said she thought that was the best way to go as well.  I would go into the hospital at 11:00 on Tues the 21st and they would give me the cervix softener (if I wasn't dialated too much for it) and then I would have to sit and have the NST for awhile, but then I would be free to go and see what would happen.  

That night was so fun!  We talked a lot with the kids about it; we made all the necessary plans for the kids (they would be dropped off at the Bushfields until my parents arrived late that afternoon); my parents would leave Virginia at 3 am and head up; we packed; and then we settled onto the couch to watch the season premier of The Event.  I had contractions during the entire night.  I didn't really even bother timing them since I knew I was headed to the hospital in the morning anyway.  We went to bed at 11pm.  I had more contractions all night - the most painful ones I had yet had this pregnancy.   The song, "You are my strength when I am weak", kept playing through my head.  I remember distinctly how I would lay completely still as a wave of contraction would hit me.  I had not planned ahead of time what I would do, but for some reason, I just started picturing myself sinking into wet sand with each pain.  As the pain started, I envisioned my feet sinking into the cool wet sand, and then my ankles, legs, knees, and on up.  It sounds so weird, but the concentration it took to picture that and imagine it, helped keep my pain at ease, plus the song kept playing in my head as well.  

In the morning, we packed the kids things up.  I had written a note to Addison and left it on his pillow telling him how much I would miss tucking him in that night and how much Samuel was going to love meeting him -  he was going to be a great big brother to him!  I told him I also had a new game I would play just with him when I came home.  Of course I wrote it with tears, but I didn't feel the guilt over bringing another baby home this time like I did with Eliana, I was just happy he was so excited to have a baby brother.

We dropped them off with our friends and headed to...Starbucks.  We needed some caffeine for what could possibly be a long day ahead.  Arriving at the hospital, on Tuesday, September 21st, it was sunny and beautiful and supposed to reach almost 90.  I was shown to a room in the annex and strapped up for my non-stress test.  The nurse Pat, "So, you'd like an insert, huh?"  "Yes, I think I do!"  She said after the NST, Kate - the midwife on duty - would come in to check me and that would determine whether I could receive it or not.  "You may just be too far along to receive it!"  I was truly hoping so.  

Click here to read part 2....