Ella's Birth Story

August 29th, Ella's due date, came and went with no sign of her coming. I continued with my weekly prenatal appointments with my midwives, and at 41 1/2 weeks I saw an OB for a non stress test and detailed ultrasound. The ultrasound showed that Ella was small and probably not as far along as we originally thought. The OB said everything looked great and that he didn't see any reason to intervene. So I we kept waiting. I kept drinking my red raspberry tea, taking evening primrose oil, and red raspberry capsules (none of these are to "induce" labor, they just help prepare the body for more effective contractions/birth) and seeing two chiropractors regularly, each who specialize in different areas.

As the days passed, I kept busy doing fun things with the kids, keeping the laundry pile caught up, making sure there were snacks prepared for my always-hungry children, etc. I felt well physically and was doing pretty well emotionally. After the 42 week mark passed I would wake up each morning discouraged to STILL be pregnant, but I got out alone in the early morning and walked while praying and listening to the Psalms on audio Bible, and every day I would come back in encouraged and resting in the Lord for when baby girl would come.

On Monday, September 18, I saw both my chiropractors, ran a few errands, cleaned up the house, and we had a friend from college (who was in town for work) over for supper. It was a good day, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. I went to bed but as I was about to fall asleep, I had a harder than normal contraction around 11:30pm. 10-15 minutes later I had another one that made me think, "hmmm, maybe labor is starting?!" I casually mentioned to Jacob, who was still up working on orchestra music, that maybe we'd have a baby tonight. At 12:00AM (I was exactly 43 weeks pregnant) I had another contraction with a definite "labor bite" and I called my midwife to let her know we'd be headed to the birth house in TN as soon as we could. Jacob called his mom to come over and stay with the kids and I called my mom and sister, who planned to meet us at the birth house. The 50 minute drive was pretty uneventful. I had 4 or 5 contractions and just took the time to pray and think and of course slather myself in my essential oils.

We got settled at the birth house and my mom, sister, 2 midwives and the midwives' apprentice all arrived soon after. I worked through some contractions, but honestly, they didn't seem to be progressing/getting harder. They were very sporadic as well, some a few minutes apart, some 15-20 minutes apart. It was really strange. I bounced on the birth ball, stood and swayed my hips, and squatted, to try to help the contractions get more regular. My tailbone is what was really uncomfortable with each contraction and I needed someone to give counter pressure through them. I was also nauseous through the whole labor until it was time to push, so I sipped on ginger tea and sniffed a lot of peppermint to help calm my tummy.

With all my other labors I've carried on conversation between contractions, but then would get in a zone and not talk between them, as they got harder/closer together at transition. This time, from around 1:30-3:30AM, I was still talking and laughing between contractions and I was thinking, either I wasn't in labor or this was going to be a super long labor.

Around 3:30, my midwife suggested I lay down on the bed and let her feel my belly to see if maybe there was a positioning issue with the baby. Both midwives felt and said that Ella was in perfect position. I lay there for around 10 minutes and didn't have a single contraction. I had pretty much convinced myself that I wasn't in labor at all. I said, "well, I'd better get up and see if I'll have some more contractions." I proceeded to get up, immediately had a contraction and felt my body start pushing. I said, "I think I'm pushing!" Haha!

I got on my knees on the bed and leaned over the birth ball for support. We waited for another contraction and after a minute or so of nothing, I "stood up" on my knees and that brought on a contraction. Miss Ella Joy was born at 3:45 in "a push and a half" according to the midwives. ha! Jacob caught her and held her for a minute before passing her to me because I was feeling dizzy and just in so much shock at what happened...remember, a few minutes earlier I didn't even think I was in labor!

We stayed at the birth house for several hours to rest and do all the post-birth stuff. The midwives found several calcifications on the placenta, some weird veins on the water bag, and the cord insertion into the placenta was not very strong. We praise the Lord for caring for me and Ella when those issues could have caused a life threatening situation at any point in the pregnancy for both of us.

3 hours old. Headed home to meet her siblings. She was actually born with her little hands up under her chin like she was praying and ever since she's liked her hands up by her face. So sweet!

All together and so happy Ella is finally here!!

Huge thanks to my sister for capturing the pictures during Ella's birth! Having my mom and sister there is so special and I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

If you love birth stories, here are the links to all of my kiddos. It's fun reading back through them and seeing how I've changed and how our family has grown is many different ways. 

Lily's birth story

Levi's birth story
Asher's birth story
Ava's birth story
Ezra's birth story

Ezra's Birth Story

*Details may seem somewhat vague due to the privacy of those involved :)

At my routine 41 week prenatal visit, baby's heart tones were low. I had them re-checked later in the day, and they were still low and his movements were very sporadic. We decided it would be best to go to the hospital for monitoring and an ultrasound. The ride to the hospital was scary for me. It was a 40 minute drive and I felt no fetal movement the whole ride. I was afraid we would not make it to the hospital in time...and if we did, I was sure the doctor would do a c-section to get the baby out ASAP.

What a HUGE relief it was when the monitors picked up the heartbeat!! There was a collective sigh of relief to all in the room. His heart rate was flat and low when the monitoring started and then it picked up and accelerated and decelerated great throughout the 3 hours I was monitored. The doctor I had seen earlier in my pregnancy was at the hospital and he ordered an ultrasound to check fluid levels and cord blood flow as well as Ezra's heart. Everything was completely normal! The doctor, nurse, and my care providers could not explain why he had low heart tones and fetal movement all day and then he was fine. They think that possibly Ezra was lying on the cord or had it in his hand and was squeezing it. The doctor felt there was no reason to keep me or to induce labor, so we were sent home.

On Monday (9 days post due) night I felt like I was starting labor, but one of my kids needed me to be "all there" for them during the night and I think I subconsciously turned off labor...if it was really starting up.

Tuesday morning (10 days post due) I woke up and felt like "today is the day!" Jacob decided to take the kids to his parents to spend the day so that I could have some quiet. While he was gone I took a nice long hot shower - it was wonderful! I started getting myself ready for the day and had a contraction at 9:04. It was a strong one and I thought, "hmm, I think it may be time." Since I thought labor was starting the night before, I wanted to have a few contractions to see if a pattern was forming before I said it was the real deal. By 9:30 I had had 4 contractions and I knew for sure this baby was coming NOW. I asked Jacob to call my mom and sister and tell them to please come fast. The contractions were so intense that I knew we didn't have time to make it anywhere.

I got in my zone and stood at the end of the bed swaying back and forth, focusing through each contraction. Jacob gave me a lot of pressure on my low back as the baby moved down so fast. At 10:00 I started pushing and at 10:13 Ezra was born into his Daddy's hands! It was an incredible experience for me and him! Our care providers were on hand to help with post-natal care which was great!

I have never experienced a birth quite like this one. It was extremely intense, but I would not describe it as painful. I know that sounds super weird, but I'm being honest. The afterpains were worse than labor and delivery - those made me feel like I was dying.

Because of our state laws, I have traveled over the state line to birth my 4 previous babies. I am very thankful we didn't try to go to the hospital or the birth house because Ezra would've been born in the car. I loved being in the comfort of my own home and the birth stayed in line with the laws since Jacob delivered Ezra. 

I tried everything to help my body produce milk, but again, I just didn't have more than a tiny bit. Ezra was on donated breastmilk for awhile and now he is doing great on goat's milk.

Now for some pictures :)

Once I needed to push, I got on the bed on my knees and leaned on the ball. I had Great is Thy Faithfulness playing on repeat all through pushing - that song has been a favorite of mine for a long time, but throughout Ezra's pregnancy I had it playing often. Valor and Gentle Baby essential oil blends were perfect for supporting my body through such a fast and furious birth!

Brand new baby boy.

I'm so thankful that my mom and sister could be with me! Nothing compares to the support they were able to give me while Jacob delivered Ezra!

Ezra's first selfie with Daddy.

I was so tired but overflowing with joy, thankfulness and relief that he was finally here safe and sound!

Here are the links to the rest of the kiddos birth stories: 

Lily's birth story, 

Levi's birth story, 

Asher's birth story, 

Ava's birth story.  

Ava's birth story.

Sunday, November 10, 4 days overdue with baby girl. 

I woke up and weighed myself first thing. I had lost 2lbs. For some reason I always lose 2lbs right before giving birth. My first thought was, "hmm, I wonder if we'll have a baby today?!" I didn't really think anymore about it as we got ready for church, but then I started losing my mucous plug and although I didn't get super excited, because I've lost my mucous plug several days before labor ever started, I again thought, "maybe today will be the day after all!" 

We went to church and had dinner with Jacob's family. I had some contractions, but none that were any different from what I'd been having regularly for weeks. We came home and got the kids down for naps. Jacob and I lay down too, but I couldn't sleep because I just felt like I needed to be doing something. I got up and did some laundry, emptied and re-loaded the dishwasher, and made muffins. I had a couple "different" contractions, and I texted a couple friends that maybe we'd have a baby today or tomorrow. At 4:01 I had a contraction that got my attention, but I didn't have to stop and breathe through it, so I still wasn't convinced that labor was starting. 

Right around 4:20, I had one that made me stop, focus, and breathe. I went and woke Jacob up and told him that I thought I was in labor and we'd need to head to the birth clinic sometime that evening. I was still hanging on to the hope that labor would hold off until after we put the kids to bed...so we could leave and they wouldn't even know. I had another more intense contraction and I told Jacob he'd better call his mom to come so she'd be here to take care of the kids when we needed to leave. 

We hurried around gathering up our last few things to take and getting stuff ready for the kids. I finally accepted the fact that I really was in labor and we were going to need to get going so we didn't have the baby in the car. When Jacob's mom arrived we quickly told her and the kids goodbye (I cried a little and Asher was calling for me as we waved goodbye). I hadn't eaten anything since dinner, so Jacob ran back in and got me a muffin and a bottle of water. We finally left the house at 5:08. As we were pulling out of the driveway I told Jacob, that he didn't have to drive fast, I thought we had plenty of time...that was before I had any contractions while sitting in the car. Oh, those are not fun! After I breathed and groaned through one, I said, "uh, yeah, you do need to drive fast!" ha!

The whole drive, my contractions were about 6-7 minutes apart. They grew in intensity and I was feeling the baby move down with each one. I had a super hard one (where I thought my water was going to break) while passing the exit to the hospital and I debated telling Jacob to just head there because I didn't think we would make it another 25 minutes. I just told him to hurry and he put on the flashers and for sure hurried! 

Once we got to the birth clinic (we made it in record time!), it seemed like my contractions slowed down, but they didn't, I was just busy talking with the midwives. I sat/bounced/swayed on the birth ball (my favorite way to labor) and leaned over on the bed and groaned and silently quoted my labor/birth verse - Isaiah 41:10 through contractions. I was feeling sick to my stomach, but I never threw up. I also got the shakes, which I always do around transition.

Jacob was amazing. Through all the contractions, he sat behind me and rubbed/put pressure on my low back and hips. My mom and sister arrived at some point and they were a big encouragement to me. I was still talking and listening to the conversation between contractions, but I really appreciated how everyone got quiet when a contraction started. I have always prayed that I wouldn't get ugly toward my husband, family, or midwives when I'm laboring, and it was just nice that they were considerate and I didn't have to ask them to be quiet! 

After a little while, I got in the zone and was staying focused even between contractions. Then I had a few hard, super long contractions and the midwife suggested I should get up on the bed and let her check me (around 7:45, I think). The most comfortable position was lying on my side (which I have never done during birth before). When she checked me I was 10cm and +3 station. I was feeling ready to push, and just then my water broke. 

I pushed through two or three contractions and the midwife said that she could see about half an inch to an inch of the baby's head. I was like (thinking to myself), "man, nobody's got time for that, let's get this baby out!" At the next contraction, I pushed (several times) with all my might and Ava Mae was born at 8:04! I obviously didn't push the whole time with all my might and shoot her out - she was actually born very easily and I had no tearing or even bruising. Ava was crying before she was even completely delivered and she was a beautiful pink! She was my first baby not to have the cord around it's neck. 

After she was born I just lay there with my eyes closed. I was so thrilled that birth was over, but I was almost scared to look at Ava because of how blue Asher was when he was born with the cord around his neck and shoulder. Myra kept telling me to open my eyes and look at my beautiful daughter. It was such a surreal time!

I am so thankful for my wonderful support team and for God's sufficient strength and presence with me.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Asher's Birth Story

{just a few minutes after birth}

Asher's due date, March 4th, came and went with no signs of him making an appearance anytime soon...which was perfectly fine with us. Hubs had a super busy week with teaching, conducting, orchestra rehearsals and a concert. I honestly hoped that Asher would wait to come until the crazy week was over. Lily, Levi, and I stayed busy playing together, keeping the house cleaned/picked up, going to the library, and grocery shopping to re-stock our kitchen. I went to the mall every day to power walk for about 30 minutes. I also continued to exercise, do pelvic rocks, squats, and hula hooping each day. I saw my midwives on Thursday, and I was only 1-2 cm dilated and 60% effaced. With Lily and Levi, I went into labor being at least 4 cm dilated, so I thought Asher's labor would be as long or longer since I wasn't very progressed.

{not happy about being weighed! check out his long feet!}

On Sunday, March 11th, we "slept in" a little because of the time change and then hurried off to church. Oh, I did have a pineapple core smoothie for breakfast...and just so those of you who don't know...with all three of my babies, I've eaten a fresh pineapple core when I'm overdue, and I have always had a baby within 24 hours...now, I don't know if it's the pineapple core kicking in labor or not, but it works for me. Ha!

Throughout the day I started losing the mucus plug and having a little bloody show (which doesn't always mean the baby is coming immediately). I had a few contractions, but they weren't really different from what I'd been having for weeks. I was in touch with my midwife, and she said not to worry about coming until I had a few consistent contractions.

I spent the afternoon posting my 41 week update, playing with Lily and Levi, and making brownies to take to my parents for supper after church. I felt fine all through church, and I had a few painless contractions. After church we headed to mom and dad's. My midwife called to check on me and said that we could come to the clinic anytime, we didn't have to wait for consistent contractions. I still wasn't convinced that Asher would be born that night, so I told her we would let her know what we decided to do.

I was helping Mom get supper on the table when we realized that Levi's glasses were missing. I went out to check in the van and suddenly had a contraction that kind of made me think, "hmmm, maybe we will have this baby tonight." I went back inside and told Jacob that he should go ahead and eat so we could go home and get the kids in bed...just in case labor started up.

We got home about 40 minutes later and I had another contraction...still not strong enough or consistent to make me jump in the car and head to Tennessee. Jacob and I got the kids in bed. I had been praying all through the pregnancy that I would go into labor at night after Lily and Levi were in bed so they wouldn't even know we were leaving and we would come home the next morning. Thankful for answered prayer!

I made sure our bags were ready to go and just kind of piddled around doing dishes and picking up the toys. Right at 10:00 pm, I had a hard contraction that made me stop, breathe and relax through it. I knew active labor had started. I told Jacob he should call his mom to come right away. At 10:05 I had another one. I texted or called (I can't remember which) my mom and sister since they were going to meet us at the clinic. Jacob's mom got to our house and we left right away. I think it was about 10:25.

{getting measured}

I called my midwife and let her know we were on the way. About 10 minutes into our drive, the contractions started coming 3-4 minutes apart and the intensity picked up a lot too. I started feeling extremely nauseous. I wasn't sure if I was in transition or if it was just Jacob's driving making me sick. About half way to the clinic, we were stopped at a red light and I said through a hard contraction, "if it's clear, you'd better go!" Poor Jacob! I'm afraid that made him really scared that we were going to have the baby in the car.

Asher was extremely active even through the contractions. With Lily and Levi, they hardly moved when I was in labor. The thought crossed my mind that there was going to be a problem with the cord, but I didn't think anything more about it.

We made it to the clinic at 11:10. My midwife checked me and I was 7 cm dilated. I asked Jacob to please call Mom and Myra and tell them to hurry. I sat on the birthing ball through 3 or 4 long hard contractions. Jacob was such a great encouragement to me (as always!) holding me and massaging my back through the contractions. My water broke at 11:30. I was like, "um, this baby is coming now!" 

Jacob and my midwife helped me onto the bed and I got ready to start pushing. Mom and Myra rushed in right then. I don't remember how many times I pushed, but it didn't seem like very many until Asher's head was born. Then the room got quiet and my midwives were busy doing something. I had my eyes closed, but I knew something wasn't right. Asher ended up having his fist up by his face, and the cord was wrapped around his neck, arm, and shoulder. My midwives told me to stop pushing and it seemed like an eternity before everyone said, "push! push! push!" Asher was born at 11:50! They immediately put him up on my chest. When I opened my eyes, he was grayish and limp. I thought he was dead. Praise God, he was breathing, even though he didn't cry for a little while. 

{proud daddy! so happy he's here!}

I held him for awhile before Jacob cut the cord. I kept saying over and over, "I can't believe he's here!" Asher Lee weighed 7lbs 5oz and was 20 inches long. We slept for a few hours at the clinic and then headed home on Monday morning.

{the next morning, ready to head home!}

I am so incredibly thankful for the grace and strength God gave me, for the quick and easy birth, for my midwives - that they worked quickly and skillfully to get Asher untangled, for my awesome husband who was right beside me the entire time, for my mom and sister making it in time, and that we didn't have the baby in the car! God is so good and we praise Him for His faithfulness to us.

Click the links below to read my other birth stories:

Lily's birth story

Levi's birth story

Levi's Birth Story

I find it hard to believe that I'm already writing another birth story! It seems like I just wrote Lily's. Ha!

Levi's due date was December 24, 2010. I pretty much assumed he would be late like Lily was - and that was totally fine with me. I was happy to be able to participate in both our family's Christmas get-togethers, especially since it was Lily's first Christmas. As soon as Christmas was over though, I was ready to have the baby!

I had been having contractions, some sporadic and some consistent, for a few weeks. When my midwife checked me on December 27th, my cervix was up behind the baby's head  but it was very thinned out. I ate 3 pineapple cores between December 26th and December 29th, I exercised everyday, did tons of squats, and got my house somewhat cleaned.

On Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 29th) I just started feeling funny. I don't know how to explain what I was feeling - there was no pain, and I wasn't really having many contractions - I just felt weird. As we were leaving the house to go to prayer meeting, I told Jacob that I wouldn't be surprised if we had a baby that night. I think I was more "hoping" to have a baby that night than I was really thinking we would.

We headed to bed just like normal, with me still feeling "weird" but having no grounds for the feeling. I was up and down all night using the bathroom. Then at 4:55am I was jerked awake by a very intense contraction. Once it was over, I got up and just walked around a little, got a drink, and sat down in the living room to check my email. At 5:00am I had another contraction, then at 5:05, 5:10, and 5:15! After the one at 5:15 I went back to bed to see if they would continue. I had one at 5:20 and then at 5:25.

The one at 5:25 was really hard and long. I started trying to wake up Jacob during that contraction. It sounded something like this,

me: "Uh, babe...I think we need to head to the clinic" {deep groaning and breathing to get through the contraction}
Jacob: snoring
me: "Babe! ... I really think we need to head to the clinic" {followed by more groaning and breathing}
Jacob: snoring and rolling over
me: while shaking Jacob - "Babe! Don't you want to go have this baby?!!!" {groaning through the end of the contraction}
Jacob: wide awake now and jumping out of bed - "Are you serious?!"

So Jacob called my mom (she was coming to the clinic to take care of Lily), we quickly got dressed, got our last minute things packed in our bags, got Lily, and headed to the car. I had several more contractions in the midst of all the hurry. Each one was growing in intensity and I told Jacob we needed to hurry - since we had a 45 minute drive ahead of us.

During the drive the contractions slowed to 7 minutes apart, but they were still just as strong and long. Thankfully there wasn't too much traffic at that time of morning, and Jacob only had to use his flashers and blow the horn once - and that was because there were these two cars, one in the left lane and one in the right lane, driving super slow side by side and we couldn't get around them! Ugh!

We got to the clinic around 6:30am and just sat and talked through a couple contractions. Then we headed back to the bedroom to listen to the baby's heartbeat. His heartbeat was good and my blood pressure was good. Then Linda checked me - to our utter surprise, I was completely effaced, 8cm dialated, and +2 station! We were both shocked! I was basically in transition.

While I waited to push, I sat on the birth ball - which helped ease alot of pressure, and ate peanut butter toast. My sweet mom rubbed my back and Jacob held my hand and encouraged me through each contraction. Lily was so precious - she knew I wasn't feeling good and she just kept coming over and hugging me and putting her head on me. It was so sweet! She went down for a nap before Levi was born, so she wasn't actually in the room then. The craziest thing about this labor was that my contractions stayed pretty much 7 minutes apart up until I was pushing. With Lily, they went from 7 minutes, down to 5 minutes, down to 3 minutes apart.

Around 8:30, my midwife checked me again and I was fully dialated. Right after that, my water broke and I started feeling like I needed to push. The contractions got a little closer together, but it seemed like I would push and then wait and wait and wait for another contraction. The waiting was seriously wearing me out! I was ready to hurry up and get the baby out! Ha!

It only took 5-6 pushes to get him out, but like I said it seemed like forever. Levi was born at 9:22am!

Linda immediately laid him up on my chest. My heart was so full of joy and thankfulness. I was bawling and just thanking God for giving me His strength to bring this precious boy into the world.

Then I heard the words "cleft lip" and my heart stopped. I've seen very sad pictures of babies and children with severe cleft lips and palettes, and that's all I could imagine (I hadn't seen Levi's face yet).

In an instant my joy plunged into sorrow. I started losing lots of blood and I was given a shot of pitocin to help get it stopped. Then my uterus wasn't hardening or coming back up and the bleeding continued, so I was given another shot of pitocin. Finally the bleeding was under control.

When I saw my sweet boy's face I realized that his cleft lip is not severe - we are SO blessed! It is only a cleft lip, and not a cleft palette. God is good!

A little while after Levi was born Jacob brought Lily in to meet him, Andrea (Linda's wonderful apprentice) weighed and measured Levi, then I got a shower and ate some lunch. I stayed in bed most of the afternoon because I was a little faint feeling from the blood loss.

I've been really surprised (in a good way!) that I've hardly even been sore from having Levi. I mean seriously, even though I didn't tear at all with Lily or Levi, sitting was uncomfortable for like a week after birthing Lily. This time I haven't had an uncomfortable-ness. I must say, it's definitely a blessing!

Psalm 139:14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well. 

Lily's Birth Story

This is a really long post. Just warning you ahead of time!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nearly two weeks before Lily's due date (December 28th), I started having contractions; they were not painful at all, my belly just got hard as a rock. Some of them were consistent, but most were irregular. I continued walking, exercising, cleaning my house, and trying to be patient. After two false runs to the midwife's clinic about an hour away, I was determined that the next time it would be the "real" thing. All during that time, I was dilated 4-5cm and 80% effaced and Lily was at +2 station. We figured that once active labor started, it wouldn't take too long to get her out! Ha!

As Lily's due date came and went and the next several days went by, it was really hard not to get discouraged. My Dad left the country on December 31st for a 2 week preaching engagement, and we also missed the tax credit since Lily Grace didn't come before 11:59pm on the 31st.

When Jacob and I woke up New Year's Day, I was feeling kind of down and I told Jacob that I really hoped Lily would be born that day. For breakfast I ate the entire core of a pineapple because someone had told my sister, Myra, that it is a natural labor inducer. Who knows if it had anything to do with me going into labor...at that point I was willing to try just about anything!

Later that morning Jacob went over to his parent's to watch a football game with a bunch of guys. I stayed home and started the Bible in 90 Days Challenge (side note: I have since fallen very far behind, but hope to do it later this year). I was still feeling down especially since Jacob only had a week before he started back teaching. We really hoped Lily would be born soon so we could have some family bonding time before he started up his insanely busy schedule. I sat there and poured my heart out to the Lord and told Him everything I was feeling and ask Him to please let Lily come that day if it was His Will. As I was sitting there reading the first 16 chapters of Genesis, I noticed that I started having "very different" contractions from what I'd been having for the last two weeks. I was contracting, but having really sharp pain down really low. It was the same kind of pain I've had over the years with Endometriosis. The contractions weren't regular, so I pretty much just brushed them off and continued with my day.

We went to my family's for New Year's Dinner and spent a while hanging out with them. I noticed that I was having the sharp pain contractions more frequently, but I didn't time them or anything. Jacob and I came home around 3:45 or so and I decided to go walking at the mall. I thought walking might help whatever the sharp pain was to go away.

Well, just about the time I was about to get in the car to head to the mall, I had a really really strong contraction with sharp pain that made me sit down and focus. I told Jacob that I didn't think I should go walking, but I would call my midwife and just let her know what was going on. She advised us to come to the clinic and let her check me to see if I was dilated anymore. I called Mom and Myra to let them know we were headed to the clinic, but I was still skeptical that this was the "real thing," so I told them they didn't need to come right away.

During the 50 minute drive to the clinic, the contractions got closer (about 3 minutes apart) and much stronger. Jacob called Mom and Myra about half way to the clinic and told them that they should probably come as soon as they could. Once we got to the clinic at 5:13pm (according to our trusty GPS) my midwife took one look at me and knew I was in active labor. She checked me and I was 7cm dilated, 100% effaced and Lily was +2 station. One midwife guessed that Lily would be born by 8:00pm and the other guessed 8:30pm.

Every contraction seemed to get harder and I just breathed/groaned through them and focused on relaxing. I sat on the birthing ball which really helped and Mom massaged my back. Jacob was right by my side the whole time, holding my hand and telling me I was doing a great job! My midwife started filling the tub because warm water massage sounded really really good to me! Right before I was going to get in the tub, my midwife checked me again and I was completely dilated and she knew it was only a very short time before I would start pushing. So I didn't even get a chance to get in the tub, but that's really ok with me! Ha.

 I got on my hands and knees on the bed for a couple contractions before I felt the urge to push. I started pushing at 8:00pm and Lily Grace was born at 8:24pm! With the first or second push, my water broke (that was such a weird feeling!). After a couple more contractions and pushes, Lily's head crowned and came out. The cord was around her neck, which Jacob saw and it scared him to death. My midwives very skillfully got it off and with the next contraction, Lily Grace was born! What joy, relief, and love swept over me as they laid her on my chest! Such an incredible feeling! I seriously couldn't believe that I'd done it, birthed this sweet little one completely naturally with no drugs! Amazing. Another thing that's absolutely amazing is that I didn't tear at all and I lost very little blood! Let me just say, I have amazing midwives! 

Pushing was definitely the hardest part for me, but God gave me so much grace! I felt Him with me the entire time. I had made some verse cards to help keep me focused through labor, but I ended up not even using them. One verse I kept quoting to myself over and over was Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I remember hearing one midwife say something like she couldn't believe I was ready to push because she hadn't heard me say "I can't do this!" Well, even though I didn't say it, I'd definitely thought it and felt it, but quoting that verse helped keep me focused that I could do this with the Lord's strength.

Overall the labor and delivery was much easier than I anticipated. Yes, it was hard, hard work, and it hurt like none other...but I'm up for having another baby sometime in the future!

 

Lily Grace

6lbs 4oz

20.5 inches long

Born: 01/01/10 at 8:24pm

Jacob changing her first diaper.

I got up and got a shower a little while after Lily was born, we ate supper, and spent the night at the clinic. Lily had a hard time nursing at first, but my midwife was an incredible help and pretty soon she caught on.

Right before heading home with our sweet baby!

Here are a few things I did to help prepare my body for a healthy labor and delivery:

1. I drank 1 quart of Red Raspberry tea (not the tea bag kind. I bought the loose leaves from bulkherbstore.com) everyday from the time I was 12 weeks pregnant, all the way to the end.
2. I took Juice Plus capsules for the whole pregnancy
3. I took Liquid Chlorophyll everyday since I was about 20 weeks pregnant
4. I took 5W herb blend the last 5 weeks of pregnancy
5. I walked 2 miles at least 5 times each week from start to finish of the pregnancy
6. I worked out at Curves 4-5 times each week from start to finish of pregnancy too

The Lord has done great things for us; whereof we are glad!

Psalm 126:3