experience of a lifetime: a birth story

I don't know if I'll ever be ready to write this post, as there are really no words to describe the amazing experience of helping with the delivery of my best friend's baby. But I suppose I'll do the best I can.

At one point in her pregnancy I told my best friend Sarah I would be willing to be on "back-up" for her hubby in the delivery room. Ryan is what I like to call a little bit of a wussy when it comes to bodily fluids, and I didn't want her to be alone if he went down. :)

The more we talked about it, the more they were considering having me in the delivery room regardless of how he was doing. On D Day they still hadn't decided so I remained on backup.

Ryan called to have me bring some things they forgot to the hospital. When I got there her contractions had died down a bit so I said I'd stay and keep them company for a while, and instructed them to kick me out whenever they felt the need. Our main topic of conversation was the baby's middle name because they hadn't decided on one yet.

It ended up working out nicely. I went and got lunch for Ryan and ran some errands for them and I stayed with Sarah if Ryan wanted a break. During contractions I would massage her back and rub her legs, and in between I would massage her feet. When contractions got worse I read her some verses over and over that she had printed out for delivery. By the time the nurse came in with the deliver room waiver for Ryan to sign, Sarah wanted me to sign it too.

I was super excited I was going to be a part of this amazing miracle! After that point Sarah wouldn't allow me to leave her. I told her I would go get her camera in the car for when the baby came, and she yelled, "NO DON'T LEAVE ME!" It was nice to feel so needed. :)

We all worked together like it had been planned to a T. Sarah did absolutely great and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. I bawled my eyes out. Ryan did amazing as well. I must say I was really surprised he hung in there and did as great as he did.

They still hadn't decided on a middle name when I left that night.

When I came back the next morning I asked if they had decided. Sarah started crying. She told me they couldn't have done it without me. I started crying. I told her they could have. She said that Ryan and her decided to give their baby girl my middle name.

There are no words.

I have a new found respect for my husband. I would get so angry when he was moping around the day after I pushed a baby out of me, saying HE was exhausted. Well let me tell you, it IS exhausting! I took a 4 hour nap the day after Sarah's delivery and it took me a while to recover! There are just so many emotions involved and it really is exhausting for the coach. So remember that ladies before you castrate your husbands when they complain about being tired after delivery. :)


Linked at Shell's.

birth story: raven

I was 5 days late with Raven when I was induced. We dropped Otter off at a friend's and proceeded to the hospital. When we got there, I remember crying after seeing a nurse I disliked, thinking she was going to be my nurse. :) Thankfully she was not, and I couldn't have asked for a better nurse!

The doctor inserted cervidil around 9:30am. I started having contractions around 11:00am. During contractions I repeated 2 Timothy 1:7 over and over and over again. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." It got me through each and every contraction.

A few hours and some stadol later, the doctor checked me and said he'd be back later.
A couple contractions after he left, I felt the need to push. The nurse paged the doctor and kept telling me not to push. Well it's not like I could exactly help it. I remember gripping and bearing down on the bed railing trying not to push. Hubby said I about broke his hand. That was when the fear really kicked in because I didn't think my doctor was going to make it!

When he finally got there, I probably pushed twice and she was born at 3:33pm on 2/22. 6 lbs 14.4ozs, 19 inches long. Total time from start of contractions to her arrival: 4 hours.

I make them wrap my IV because I can't stand to look at it. Gives me the heebs.