Finally, after all your waiting, here it is... The Birth Story!
I started having consistent contractions Tuesday, November 22nd, at 8 o’clock in the morning. I was taking Josh to the train station and told him I might be calling him home again soon. Around 9 or 10am, I went with my mom to the grocery store where they proceeded to get more intense and frequent. Assuming this was it, I called Josh home. I was having 14 contractions in an hour and didn’t know how quickly it would pick up. Unfortunately, this continued all day with no change. Josh’s parents came down the next day, again assuming it would pick up soon. I was wrong. By Thanksgiving, I was not only tired, but emotionally drained, wondering if Adelyn would ever come out. I had a few talks with our doula, Sarah, which helped calm my anxiety and helped me wait patiently for the Lord’s perfect timing. Thanksgiving wasn’t particularly fun as I was having several contractions during the meal and didn’t get to quite enjoy it like usual. That night, Sarah came over to try and help distract and encourage me. I asked her to be honest about how much longer she thought it would be. Her response was that my body was tired and needed to rest. Now to some this might sound discouraging, but it helped me let go of the idea that she might come any minute and helped me relax.
When Sarah left at midnight, I went to try and sleep, only to find that my contractions had intensified quite a bit. I was able to sleep around 1-3 minutes in between contractions. Around 3am, I told Josh to call Sarah back. I didn’t want to do this by myself anymore. I don’t remember much between 3am and 8am. I remember trying to sleep in between contractions, laboring in hands and knee position (with little relief), laboring on the birth ball, exaggerated squats, and going to the bathroom lots. Sarah also fanned me with a lemon scented fan, which helped with my feelings of nausea. Around 8am, I decided I really didn’t want to labor at home anymore. Sarah encouraged me to use all my options at home before heading to the hospital. So, Sarah, Josh, and I all headed up the street for the longest walk ever. We had to stop every 5 steps during my contractions. Once we got back, I tried taking a shower. Instead of relief, I began to feel pressure and then was really ready to head to the hospital.
We got to the hospital at 9:30am. Probably one of my favorite memories (I have a few, not all our mentioned in this story), was when the Emergency intake guy kept trying to send me back, while I was having a contraction. “Maam, you can come back here. (Pause) Go ahead and come back this way. (another pause)”. It took the woman intake person to tell him to wait since I was having a contraction. Once I finally was wheeled up to the labor and delivery floor, I was taken to a triage room. Second favorite memory: nurse completely surprised to find that I was 100% effaced, 7cm dilated, and 0 station with a bulging bag of waters. She couldn’t believe that I was that far along since I was making jokes and very calm. Needless to say, they put me in a labor room.
At 1:15pm, I had dilated to an 8 ½. At this point, Carri Jo (our doctor) discussed with us whether or not we wanted her to break my water. We decided to after being told I could still take a much desired bath. She informed me that she found meconium when she broke the water and would not stimulate Adelyn when she was born. If Adelyn cried on her own then she would put her straight on my chest like I had asked. If not, she would have to go to the nursery.
Once my water was broke, I was dilated to a 9. I had to lay on my back while I was being monitored. (My whole labor this far had either been spent on the birthing ball or atanding with Josh squeezing my hips and Sarah using a peppermint scented fan. I would close my eyes and breathe through each contraction. I was able to stay on top of them and took each one as they came.) Apparently, Adelyn, just like me, didn’t like me being on my back because her heart rate dropped significantly. Carri Jo then, very kindly, had to inform me that they were going to have to get Adelyn out really quickly. I remember thinking, ‘Oh no, she’s thinking a C-section. Okay take really deep breaths because sometimes that’s why the heart rate drops’. I also prayed, but kept in mind that we had asked for God to be glorified and trusted he knew best what that meant. Carri Jo also thought I needed more prayer warriors on my team and headed out and told my mom what she was thinking. Thankfully, they had me get up and immediately Adelyn’s heart rate went up. After a little more laboring I began to feel an involuntary urge to push. Carri Jo checked me and found that Adelyn was posterior. This began the hardest part of labor for me.
I had to get on my hands and knees in hopes that Adelyn would flip. I remember moaning through the intense contractions and sweating profusely. I was so thankful for Josh and Sarah, as they applied cold washcloths and a double hip squeeze. This part was really intense and I remember thinking that if I were to get an epidural this would be the time for it and wishing it was over. Thankfully Adelyn eventually turned. I continued to feel the urge to push and at 3pm it was finally time to get Adelyn out!
I pushed for an hour before Adelyn came out. I started pushing using the squatting bar. I’m pretty sure at some point I fell asleep for a few seconds at least and then remembered I should have been pushing. Carri Jo suggested I try a different position. Later she told me it looked like I was going to fall over the squatting bar. I gratefully took her advice and chose to lay on my back. Josh occasionally would say, “Good job, Joanie. There’s the head”. Then a little bit later, “There’s the head”. Meanwhile, Sarah tells me that I can do this and my body is strong and Carri Jo tells me I need to get this baby out. All I kept thinking is, “Am I done yet? Are we close? I’m so tired”. At 4pm exactly, Adelyn was born. She cried on her own and got to go straight to my chest! 7lbs 12 oz, 19.5 inches long, and 14 inch head.
Josh responded by crying. From the moment that just a little part of her head was showing, Josh was telling me how beautiful she was. But my response? Relief. I was so glad that I was done and that I could finally rest.
Leading up to the delivery, our main prayer was that God would be glorified in Adelyn’s birth.
In remembering all the events leading up to her arrival, it is very event that His hand was very much involved: she turned on her own, she didn’t breathe in the meconium, the c-section never happened, the cord broke after she came out, and the prednisone didn’t affect her blood sugar levels at all.
And we continue to pray that He will always be glorified in her life and our own. I am so very thankful that He has entrusted her to us and that we have this amazing opportunity to take care of and raise her. What a blessing!
