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She's here!I am right now holding our precious baby--14th child, tenth little girl! God has been so gracious to all of us!After our little "false alarm", all was quiet--just spent a few days catching up on rest, etc. My dear husband was able to get extra work done for the office, and he felt strongly to get some monthly reporting done for the office on Saturday, instead of waiting for Monday--wonder why?... Sunday morning I thought we had better make church for sure. I was experiencing some unorganized contracts throughout the morning routine, along with some "shakes", but was too distracted by church prep (major stuff around here) to pay much attention. Was too preoccupied to pay much attention to the service, sort of "into myself", needing to shut the world out. It was really good we went, though, as we were able to minister to some of our dear friends who are working through some important issues, and so it was God that we went. Meanwhile, I was soooo uncomfortable. One lady actually asked last week if I were going to "explode", and even the nurse at the OB office said that she was going to be watching for a story in the papers announcing the birth of the world's largest baby! That's why I was more than a little elated when the unorganized contractions began to become quite organized--from 7 to 5 to 3, etc. I waddled upstairs to where my dear husband was watching football and announced that he may have to finish watching his game in the hospital. Then my 16yo took on the task of helping me to clock everything, and followed me faithfully around the house with a watch. Things began to look more promising as the contracts didn't slow down with changes in position or activity. Daddy decided it would be fun to have someone along to sort of keep him company, since he often ends up feeling like a 5th wheel at these occasions. After a little discussion it was settled that our 8yo dau. would be honored in this way, and she was elated. We packed up and headed out--I was still in consistent labor, but not uncomfortable at all. Arrived in observation at the hospital, and after exams, monitoring, etc., it was agreed that we were definitely in labor--"bloody show", etc., just that the baby's head was high between contractions, making progress quite slow. I was experiencing some pretty strong "squeazes", but feeling quite comfortable indeed--no pain, just pressure. As I was getting dressed into the hospital attire, I talked to the baby and told her that I didn't know how, but I knew that God was going to give us a great love, and that He would help me to raise her and care for her. After a few hours of going nowhere, we all decided to go for an amniotomy, or breaking the amniotic membrane. Once the OB did, the flood waters flowed! She even exclaimed, "Holy Smokes!" as water gushed forth, over the whole bed,etc.--this is why I had been so uncomfortable! Afterwards, the progress was better, but still slow. A part of me liked the fact that I wasn't in any real discomfort, but another part of me was anxious to get to the real pushing and get to hold my baby. Meanwhile, I was singing songs from the Psalms and walking gently around, keeping my mind stayed on Him. My little daughter sat close by, getting things for me as I needed them, unable to sleep, even though it was late. I enjoyed carrying on a good conversation with the labor nurseand even the OB (a very sweet person) during this time, but I don't think this helped with the progress! Upon the next internal exam, I asked the OB to check for presentation, just to see if this was not keeping the baby's head from putting enough pressure on the cervix to make a difference. We found that the baby's head was positioned sideways--so it was suggested that I lay on my side, and BINGO!--that's when the discomfort hit--the pain that let me know that things were progressing. I began alternating with laying on my side and on all fours, and things began to get serious. I called on my dear husband to rub my lower back during a contraction, and then sit in front of me so I could lean on him in-between. There's just something about his touch that is very healing and comforting to me. As she moved further down, I could lay back (on an incline) and get through the waves without massage, but just concentrating on her movement along the birth canal. At a certain point I could tell that she was just on the verge of entering the "ischial spines"--the bones that guard the exit, so-to-speak. I prayed and told the Lord that I wanted her to pass through, that I was ready. Then the real pain hit, when I decided that I couldn't go any further--imagine that! After 13 other babies, I still didn't want to do this part! The baby's head was right there in the middle of my bones, and nothing I did could ease the discomfort, so I complained a bit until I remembered, "I can push the pain!"--so I did! I just leaned to the side, sort of and started pushing with all my might, while my support people scrambled to prop me up. I kept on pushing and pushing, feeling like my eyeballs would pop out, hearing them call out to me that her little hair was showing, that we were in the home stretch. Except for a few deep breaths, I didn't stop until her head was delivered and it was anounced there was a really tight loop around her neck--so I panted, even though I wanted to badly to expell her shoulders. They clamped and cut the cord, and then I delivered the rest of her. After she was finally all the way out, I sighed and said "That was easy!", which made everyone laugh! The cord had caused her a little distress, so they whisked her away to give her a little oxygen, etc. This (the cord incident) must have happened in just the last few moments of birth, since throughout the labor she had been so reactive and not even a sign of "head crunch". She normalized pretty quickly, and soon I had her precious little body in my arms. Much to everyone's amazement, she even nursed. My doctor graciously guarded my perineum, so that all I had was a little "skid mark" from where my last episiotomy left me a weak spot--20 years ago--that reoccurs with every birth. There were less little tiny tears than my other home births--which was wonderful. The placenta was HUGE! --indicating a very healthy and vibrant pregnancy. She ended up being 8lbs, 1oz., 20.5 inches long. Our hour with her passed too quickly--but we are all having such a wonderful "babymoon". She is calm, and hardly complains or cries. What can I say--she's perfect! The first day everyone went home and it was just she and I--I spent most of the time just staring at her and adoring her and thanking God for His goodness. Then I called home and invited my dear husband back to the hospital for a little "date"--he would bring the movie (there was a DVD player), and I would have the hospital "room service" bring us dinner. Meanwhile, I showered and got fixed up, and when he arrived we embraced and cuddled and had a wonderful time enjoying each other and our new little baby together. Of course the hospital procedures, rooms, beds, etc. were a little much to take at times, but all-in-all I am glad that I listened to God and did the hospital thing this time around. The children are all so happy. The bigger brothers and sisters made the time special for all of them, and the older children were so giving and self-sacrificing that the little ones hardly missed us! My little 2yo is taking her nap next to me on the bed as I type. She is so excited about the baby, just needs lots of love and comfort. Each child is a reminder of how much favor God has had on our family. We are truly blessed! Pictures coming forwith--- Sherry Leave a Comment { Last Page } { Page 9 of 84 } { Next Page } |
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