Samuel's Birth Story (Part 2)

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.  

When Kate came in, we talked things over and she checked. "Well, you're not getting the gel! You're almost 5 cm. You're going to have a baby this afternoon!" I burst into tears. "REALLY?" It just seemed to good to be true. No insert needed, no pitocin, no artificial anything and it looked like I was going to have him that day! I couldn't believe it. She went on to say that I had a "bulging bag of water" and when it broke, based on my other labors, the baby would most likely come pretty fast. I couldn't stop crying. I was just so excited! This is exactly what I wanted. She told us to go get lunch and walk around a bit, get my things and come back around 1:00 to be admitted. I could do that! I didn't want lunch; I was not hungry at all. I already had my stuff in the car. But I could walk! 

We went to the cafe to get Justin some lunch and then we went out to the garden for him to eat it. We walked and reminisced about being out there while waiting for Eliana to come. It had been just as nice of a day (and felt very recent). We talked and made phone calls and I continued to have contractions every once in awhile but nothing horrible and nothing time-able. 

At 1:00 we grabbed our stuff out of the van and got ourselves admitted. I was set up in a room and hooked back up to the monitors while Pat did all the required paperwork. While sitting in bed, I felt almost no contractions from 1-2 pm. Inside I was getting worried that labor would stop and this would become another long, drawn out labor. Around 2:00, she was done and I was free to get up. It was very odd. We were there alone, stuck now in the hospital, dilated halfway, but not really feeling in labor. When I would get a contraction, I felt it in my lower back. I would lean forward on the bed and Justin would push down on my lower back to counterbalance the pain. It was so different from my other labors when I relied SO much on Justin and the midwives. This time, the midwife and nurse were barely in my room and Justin only applied back pressure. It was very different for him as well. He said he felt less involved in the process and wasn't sure how to help or if I was even in pain because I was just to quiet and in control the whole time. 

The jacuzzi was amazing! It helped a lot with the pain, even though I felt the pain still wasn't horrible. Justin kept asking my where I was on a scale of 1-10. I kept replying 8 because it hurt, but I knew it was going to get a whole lot worse. Guess what? It never did! It just stayed a steady, consistent labor the entire time. After the tub, Kate suggested a few new positions for laboring that might help my back pain. At 3:30, I asked her to check me and I was a solid 5 she said. I was a little disappointed, but she said my water felt like it was just going to break at any point. We could wait it out or she could do it to move things along. I was fine with her breaking it, but nervous too at how fast labor might move afterward. 

She waited for my next contraction and broke my water. She said I immediately dilated to an 8! Everyone was so excited - us, the nurse (Darleen now), Kate. They all started chattering like this was going to happen in no time. I was scared. At that point, no one left the room and kind of just started making preparations. I didn't say much. Honestly, it was really awkward. Everyone seemed too excited and like they were really anticipating a big event at any moment, but I didn't feel any different. I just kind of stood by the bed and looked at Justin like, "um, could somebody do something and stop staring at me?" I felt very on the spot and pressured to "perform" or shout out that I needed to push. In reality, nothing much was happening! 

I changed laboring positions a few times and asked for a fan. Kate was trying to encourage positions that may get the baby to rotate. They thought he was probably a bit sunny side up since I was having so much back pain. I laid down for the first time and was encouraged to lay on my side, legs open. Honestly, this was the hardest part! My legs just got so tired and week this way. Everyone was whispering and reminding me I could push anytime I felt like I should. I never opened my eyes. Even thinking back now, I am so amazed. There just wasn't much pain. I kept waiting for the intensity. For the crazy "I can't do this" feelings. For the screaming. I heard my nurse talking about cider donuts and Russell Orchard's wine. The worship song lyrics, "My heart and my soul, Lord I give you control; 

Consume me from the inside out, Lord!" kept running through my head. 

Finally, finally, (although it had been only about 90 min. since my water was broken) there came a faint pushing urge. I was nervous and barely did anything with it. Everyone continued to just calmly suggest I push when I needed it. It was so weird. I remember thinking - just tell me to push! Tell me when! 

Tell me harder or softer! I need direction! But it was just so quiet and calm. In between pushes, I was 

able to rest, there was no pain until the point when they could see him and told me to stop pushing. 

THAT was painful! Darleen went to the door and asked for some assistance. I thought, Oh my Lord, 

no not again! (remembering Addison's birth). But everything was okay, I was just getting ready to 

deliver him. When there was that final release and exclamations all around, I looked up at the clock. 

5:55 pm. 4 hrs. since being admitted and here we were with our boy!

I got him right away and remember kissing his sweet little face. We immediately thought he looked so 

different from the other two, although that has changed now that he is older. He went right to nursing 

and nursed continuously for 30 min. when the nurse said since it looked like he wasn't going to have any problems latching on, could they take him and measure and weigh him? I couldn't believe it! Addison took FOREVER to catch on to nursing and Eli just wasn't interested for like a day. It just felt like the perfect completion. The nurse and midwife went on and on about what good partners Justin and I were during the labor and how beautiful it all was. 

Funny thing is, about three weeks earlier, my friend had prayed for me and had specifically prayed that I would have a controlled labor that was just beautiful. I thought as she prayed, how in the world could 

labor be beautiful? Wow, I truly believe God answered that for me! I felt so blessed and it just 

continued over the next two days in the hospital. The ward was so full and busy we were placed back in the annex where I had had my NST. It was a big, sunny room that overlooked the garden. We were left alone a lot. Without the other 2 kids, it was just quiet and peaceful, sunny and calm. Justin and I got to talk a lot. The night of our celebration dinner, it really felt like a date. We talked all about the birth; I 

was so anxious to hear his thoughts. It was just a beautiful time for us that I am so thankful for. 

I have bonded to Samuel a lot sooner than I did with the other two. I am just smitten with him and so in 

love. This, I believe, is just another answer to prayer. I truly believe that if a more immediate bonding 

hadn't happened with Samuel, this already difficult and tiring situation with three children under four, 

would be that much harder. 

He is a joy. He is social and happy. He loves interaction and attention. Thank you, my Father, for this gift of a third life.