Drink Water

I don't know why it took 6 pregnancies to get this into my head, but with my current pregnancy I have realized how important drinking water is. With my previous 5 I was not able to "stomach" the water, causing heart burn or nausea. This pregnancy has been far different than the others, and I have made myself drink water. I have found that when I drink the water and push through the nausea it actually goes away and I feel better. During the first trimester this was not so much the case, but I still was able to push through many times and keep myself hydrated. When I stay hydrated I feel better and I can eat better and keep up better. I have found drinking water to really help me this time and in hindsight wish I had pushed myself more with previous pregnancies to drink water in spite of how I felt. We are told everywhere how important drinking water is in general, and I would say it is even more important in pregnancy.

Keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of water!

Reuben's Birth

From the Archives 

God's hand was completely in this as He is in all births and I am excited to share how God showed His glory and favor to us. Both of my other children had to be induced for different reasons and I desired so much in my heart to go into labor unassisted medically. God designed birth and I knew that He could put my body into labor without medical assistance and I prayed so hard for this. Not only were Jim and I praying for this, many of our wonderful friends were praying the same thing for us. I prayed that it would bring God glory to do this. We were narrowing in on the day that a decision had to be made and I continued to pray that God would see it bring Him glory for my body to do what He designed it to do.
I had been contracting off and on for a couple of weeks. On Tuesday I noticed that they were much more frequent around 3:00, but they were no stronger than the ones I had been having for the past couple of weeks. I debated and debated but decided it was nothing to call about and went to bed around 11:00 to get a good nights sleep in my own bed before we had to decide what we should do. Praise the Lord I slept! What a beautiful thing. And I felt mostly rested when I got up in the morning and I was still having contractions. This was great! I was so excited and hoping I would be about 3cm dilated at my appointment since I had apparently been contracting all night. Rebekah came to watch the kids for my appointment and Jim and I left. On the way there the contractions started to change a little bit. Just a little bit stronger and needing a little more concentration. We checked in and they looked at me and asked if I was in labor. I said maybe but I wasn't sure. They got me back and I had to wait a few minutes for the doctor but while I was waiting the contractions felt a little stronger. Dr. Pridham came in and listened to the baby and checked my cervix. I was 6cm dilated! I was rejoicing that the Lord had given me the desire of my heart and had put my body into labor as He had designed it to do! He told me to go to check out to get a copy of my chart and head over to labor and delivery.  I had intentionally not taken my bags because I really was not expecting to be that far along and was going to go home to labor for a bit. So I called Rebekah and her mother came to watch the kids. Rebekah got all of our stuff together and took care of things at the apartment arranging childcare for the rest of the day.

And so my time in the hospital began. They knew I wanted a natural delivery and they completely respected that and worked with me. I had a wonderful nurse, Debbie, who loved that I had been an L&D nurse. She put me on the monitor to check the baby and gave me a saline lock. Since I was going natural they allowed me to walk and drink water. I even got to have a Popsicle! The nurses at the station heard I had been an L&D nurse and talked to me about it. It was really neat for them to be excited about that and they were super nice to me. I walked until I really could not stand through my contractions any more. I went back to my room and struggled through positioning as the contractions continued to grow in strength. Transition came on strong (I will add my water was still intact). It became difficult not to push but God gave me the strength to resist and hold off until my water did break. It was perfect timing, God's timing. I had a very strong contraction that broke my water. At that moment my doctor was walking by my room from a C-section and came in. I have never screamed in labor before but that day I did. All I could say was "God help me!" My wonderful husband whispered in my ear "He will." And He did. It was time to push and about 10 minutes later Reuben was born! God gave me the strength to endure and gave us a son to care for for Him. What a wonder! What a blessing! Birth is so amazing and God is so amazing.
I will admit that this was my most challenging labor. With the inductions they were so fast it was almost as if I had no time to feel anything. This one was longer, but it was in God's timing and gradual. Reuben tolerated it so well and we both did wonderfully. I also did not feel as tired afterward. Reuben fed within an hour of birth with no problem. They did not even give me pitocin after the birth and I had no complications. God is so good!


(Originally from The Manor Manor)

Lillian's Birth- Listen to the Holy Spirit

From the Archives

I put a subtitle on this birth because Lillian's birth was the one that showed me only God knows completely what is going on 100% of the time. Saturday, May 1, 2010, I woke feeling foggy and weird. I was used to be tired, but this morning something was different. I got Jamey up was getting him ready to go to the grocery store to pick up a few needed things. While we were getting ready my nose began to bleed a little bit. This clued me in that something was not right as I have never, to my knowledge, had a nose bleed. Since I was going to Publix, I decided to have the clinic there check my blood pressure. Jim was unavailable as he was working nights and at the time sleeping at my grandmother's condo in case someone called wanting to see the house. At Publix, the nurse practitioner checked my blood pressure: 140/100. I normally ran 110/60, so this was quite high for me. She waited 10 minutes, and checked again. The same. I got the few things I needed, went home and called my midwife. Thankfully it was Harriet on call and she knew me well. With my blood pressure that high she told me to go on to the hospital as we both expected I was developing pre-eclampsia (or PIH). I called Jim to wake him and was able to get one of my sisters to the house to watch Jamey. I don't remember the time but sometime in the afternoon we got to Northside and checked in.

I was put on the antepartum side to be evaluated. Thankfully there was nothing horrible in my blood work, but I was clearly developing pre-eclampsia and at 38 weeks and 5 days I would not be going home.

I should interject here that I was bound and determined not to be induced again and had begged God to not make me go through it a second time. This is God's sense of humor.

Since I would not be going home Jim and I decided it would be best to go ahead and be induced. The Holy Spirit was clearly telling me to do it as well, as much as I hated the idea. They moved me to a labor room and got me ready for the overnight medicine to help the cervix. I was blessed to have nurses and knew and loved (though I was no longer working when I had Lillian). I opted to take an Ambien and slept very well all night long.

In the morning I was 4cm! I was so thankful for that. I was able to get up and shower before the pitocin got started. Around 6 am or so everything got going. I dozed between contractions and waited for midwife change of shift. I was so thankful to have Kristy! When she came in she asked the dreaded question, "Do you want me to break your water?"

I NEVER wanted to have my water broken. It was on my "thou shalt not" list. Thankfully she gave me some time to think and talk to Jim. I was torn because I had a feeling it would really speed up my labor but if it didn't I was scared of being on the clock to deliver. Again, the Holy Spirit clearly said to me, let them break your water. Jim encouraged the same. So I agreed and at 8:45 my water was broken by the midwife.

Labor moved VERY quickly and an hour later, Lillian was born without me having to push at all! It was amazing!

Then the cord came out without the placenta! It turned out she had a velamentous insertion of the cord, meaning it was not inserted into the placenta but had made a path to the placenta through the amniotic sac. Her cord was not protected. I knew that this could have ended badly for both of us had things not happened as they did. But God, in His grace, provided a safe delivery for both Lillian and I.

As Christians we have to be in tune to the Holy Spirit and be willing to relinquish our plans into His hands. I could have fought it, but I don't want to think what could have happened if I had not heeded His voice or my husband's opinion. Today, Lillian is a vibrant and healthy 3 year old and I am so blessed to have a daughter!

Listen to the Holy Spirit!

Jamey's Birth

From the Archives

When I became pregnant with my first child I had been working in labor and delivery for about 2 years and had a clear idea of what I did and did not want for my birth. I did not want an epidural (I have a real fear of needles). I did not want to be induced or have my water broken. And I definitely did not want a c-section. I wanted a completely natural picturesque labor. I was definitely an idealist.

At 40 1/2 weeks we discussed induction. My husband is a NICU nurse and was clear he was not comfortable with me going past 41 weeks. I wanted to wait a little longer, but my midwife was on call the day I turned 41 weeks and was fine inducing me on a Sunday since she would be there, so Jim and I agreed this was best. I was nervous but thankful I was already 3 cm dilated to start with. 

Sunday morning I arrived at the hospital a little early and got some breakfast before checking in. I was so blessed to get to choose my nurses since I worked on the unit and had Shannon, a wonderful Christian woman who was supportive of my going natural. The pitocin was started at 9 am and I watched TV and chilled as I waited for it to kick me into full labor. Around 11:45 am my water broke on its own, which was a huge blessing! They did discover meconium and attempted to put in an internal monitor, but were unable to because the baby's head was too engaged. At this point labor became very intense. I had already been quoting Psalm 23 here and there, but at this point all that got me through the contractions was focusing on God being my help and Jim applying strong pressure to my lower back. (He got quite a work out too.) 

I am not sure what the time was, but I started feeling the urge to push, but was sadly informed I was only 6 cm; way too far to think about pushing. I talked with Jim briefly, but decided since the NICU team would already be present to take Fentanyl to help take the edge off. It did it's job! It's a short acting drug and by the time it wore off it was time to push! 

It was great to get to push! It took a little while as the baby was big. There were a lot of people there, I guess they thought the baby might get stuck, and working there they had a very watchful eye on me. I was definitely struggling a bit and was tired. Then one of my doctor's asked me if I was sure about not getting an epidural. He thought he might need to use forceps and did not want to hurt me. Forceps was, apparently, all I needed to hear to get me motivated. After that the baby was out in 2 or 3 pushes!

I was so relieved! I looked at Jim and asked, "what is the baby?" (We did not find out the gender.)

Jim's smile was so wide, "It's a boy!" I couldn't believe I had a son. It was amazing and wonderful!

The NICU team took him immediately to assess whether the meconium was in his airway. He was with the for a few minutes and got the "all clear". It was incredible to hold my first child, my son, in my arms. I was so thankful for how well it had gone. God was so good to me in my labor and delivery.

I did have, barely, a 2nd degree tear from him being so big. Thankfully the stitching went quickly and I was able to hold him again soon after. Jim was beaming as he looked at our son, who we named after him, James Marshall. I had no other complications and my healing went well. I was able to walk and move around soon after giving birth. It was great.

As soon as it was done I wanted to do it again! I'm one of those nuts who loves giving birth. God has truly blessed me. 

Getting Back in the Game

As you have noticed, the blog has been quiet for several months. After my last birth, things got very hectic around here and I needed to back off for awhile. In fact, until recently, it was even hard for me to talk about birth. God has been doing a work in my family and me, and it was His hiatus. Now He seems to be saying it's time to start this ministry up again. Why? I cannot say for sure. Perhaps because I'm expecting my 6th baby. Perhaps because I have many friends who are having babies. Maybe both or any other number of reasons. Whatever the reason or reasons, God is clearly telling me it is time.

So what does that mean? I'm going to be easing back into this. My hope is to do 2 posts a week. I will likely be repeating some old posts, but I would also like your help in writing new ones.

What are things you would like to know about in relation to childbirth?
What types of stories would you like to read?
Do you have a birth story to share?
Have you read anything helpful or something that was not useful that you would like to write about?

Please check out my About Page for my general overview and purpose of this blog. Also, feel free to ask any questions. I will do my best to give as much information as possible, but as I said I am easing back into this and may not be able to get the research you are seeking as quickly as you may need, so I ask for your patience as I restart this endeavor.

Thank you for coming over. I am excited to see what questions people have or who might want to write a post to share.

Welcome back to the conversation!

God is in Every Birth

If there is one thing I see in every birth story I read, it is that God is in it. From my best to my worst, the one common thread is seeing God's hand moving in me. I shared awhile ago that this birth was much harder than I expected. But what I have learned most from this is that God was still there. Emotionally speaking, He was the only one there with me. The nurse He gave me that day was wonderful and really helped me as I struggled through intense pain like I have never experienced before. She was God's voice to me, telling me that I was doing well and encouraging me to persevere.

God was there! 

I think back to my other births and I see the weaving of God's story in the middle of all of them. Without God, I would not even have birth stories to share. He is the Creator of all life and nothing has breath apart from Him. God is in every birth.

Mind, Body and Spirit

Since the birth of my 5th child, my life has been a little chaotic and I have struggled to write on this blog that I have desired to have for quite sometime. Even know I struggle to write, but this is a ministry that God has given me and I need to move forward, even if it is slowly. So today, I'm going to share what I have been learning so much recently, especially with this last birth.

Our mind, body and spirit are all connected.

This may not sound like an earth shattering revelation, but it plays a huge part in giving birth. Whether you desire to have a completely natural birth or one that is medicated in every way but a c-section, if there is trouble in one of these areas, it makes giving birth that much harder. A lot of things have come to light since giving birth to Samuel, and I realized how much I was struggling mentally and emotionally during his birth. Because my heart and mind were troubled, it was that much harder to give birth. I cried out to God for help and strength to persevere, which He readily gave, but it was still a challenge because things were not right. My heart and mind were strained because of a strained relationship, and without reconciliation, it was almost unbearable to give birth. I know I have spoken of some of these things before, but I want to reiterate them again to you because I never knew how much sin has effected giving birth.

It is part of the curse. "To the woman He said, 'I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.'" Genesis 3:16a. Sin does this! And when there is sin among God's people it is multiplied.

This does not mean if there is no sin among you you will have a pain free birth. It also doesn't mean that if there is sin your birth will be terrible. It's just clear from Scripture that sin has brought about pain in giving birth, and in my current experience, sin greatly multiplied my pain in childbirth and almost made it impossible.

My challenge to you: Always seek God, seek to weed out sin and seek to reconcile, because our mind, body and spirit are connected. It will not make your birth perfect, but it will help you to overcome no matter what happens during it.