THE BIRTH

 

I wrote down a series of things I was believing God for for Sammy's birth:

1. Pain-free childbirth
2. Born on 1st January 2025
3. Labour under 1 hour
4. No complications
5. No tears
6. No induction
7. Normal size baby
8. Natural birth
9. No trauma
10. JOY!

Ephesians 3:20 He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we ask or imagine, according to the power which is at work in us.

Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy...

Sammy's birth was no less than spectacular. Little did we know that he would arrive on the day we washed the first batch of baby clothes. We had the cot assembled, the car seat cleaned, and the maternity bag packed except for the baby clothes. While speaking with the neighbour, we casually mentioned that we might need her help if the baby arrives tonight. "It's a really small chance," M dismissed it casually. Famous last words. 

We went to bed at about 11.45pm after praying together. I felt a sudden heaviness immediately after, like the sensation of the baby dropping further down. It felt uncomfortable, but I thought that this was just like any other day; some discomfort before settling down to sleep. As I lay down trying to find a good position, I felt a light contraction. I tried to sleep, but then another contraction came. When the contractions didn't stop, but they weren't that intense either, I decided to get up and walk around. I could feel the contractions getting closer together. I really wasn't prepared at all and emotionally was in denial. I wasn't ready! I haven't reread my pregnancy books! I went to the back room and flipped open the Ina May book to the Pain Pleasure Riddle chapter and started reading. I felt really cold and started shivering. I was not in the mental space to read AT AL, so I closed the book and decided to confront this reality:

 the BABY IS COMING. I have to FOCUS.

I went back to the room and woke M up, telling him that the contractions have started. He got up quickly, and phoned the neighbour if she could come round to watch the kids. I started packing for the hospital- babygros, books, baby maternity file. M came back from ringing the neighbour's doorbell after she did not pick up the phone. She was going to come round! Thank God. 

Bags and baby car seat in the hallway, M called for an Uber. It arrived at about 12.50am and we took off at 12.53am. We arrived at the hospital at 1.11am.  The contractions continued while in the uber, To manage them, I breathed out loud and patted my thigh while counting in my head. The front doors of the hospital were locked. We went to the A&E reception who let us in and directed us to the 6th floor. 

We went up the lift, arrived at the 6th floor to the reception. It took a few minutes before they let us in. I remember holding on to the radiator while a contraction came. We went in to the labour ward. We walked along the corridor and there were a few women with their husbands sat on the seats waiting. At the reception, I was told to get a urine sample in the triage room. 

We went into the triage room with all our bags. I found the bathroom and got the urine sample. I wondered if I was going to give birth in that room. Since no one was there, I decided to make myself comfortable and tried to turn the shower on. With my second baby, I stood in the shower for quite a while managing the contractions. The midwife came into the room. "No, you can't give birth in the bathroom! It's not clean. Get on the bed now." I complied, but not before asking if the birthing pool could be turned on. No, was the answer. It wasn't functioning and the room was a triage not a birth room.

When the midwife left the room, I got off the bed again as I felt more comfortable managing the contractions standing up. As I was holding on to the side of the bed, a loud gush came; my waters broke. It was a dramatic "woah" moment! The midwife came back and exclaimed "Get on the bed! get on the bed! The baby will drop on the floor!" Very dramatic indeed. I climbed back on the bed. She inspected me and mentioned something about lots of hair. (I think she could see S's head with hair). 

Suddenly I feel the urge to push with the contraction. This sent the midwives in a frenzy. By this time there were 2 midwives in the room. They pile blankets on me and push me out of the room while M was getting the bags and car seat. With each contraction there is a strong urge to push. As the midwives were pushing my bed along the corridor at great speed, one of them told me not to push, but to breathe. 

We finally arrive at the delivery room. Between the contractions, I had to move to another bed. M arrived at the room and asked the names of the midwife. One said her name was Rejoice! Rejoice, I echoed, certain that all was well as I believed God for  joy in the process. One the midwives tried to put a belt around my belly to monitor the baby's heartbeat. I was too engrossed in the contractions to care. 

Rejoice guided me with every push, reassuring me that I was doing really well. There were at least two contractions where I pushed, but the baby went in again when I stopped. It was ok though as I remembered Ina May writing about this in her book. On the final contraction and push (M said my face was very red with effort), the baby's head came out. Then I was told to do small pushes, and then to stop pushing as the rest of the baby's body was coming out. Registered time of birth: 1.51am, about 2  hours after I felt the "drop".

I sighed and breathed out in relief after the intense effort. I kept saying wowww. They put Sammy on my tummy as the umbilical cord was too short. M bravely cut the umbilical cord. I noticed how white his hands were and how pink his fingernails. He had a good loud cry. They weighed him- 3.4kg. M put clothes on him.

Rejoice inspected me an said I had no tears! Hallelujah thank God for the miracle. Finally we were alone with the baby. We were slightly in disbelief at the whirlwind experience. Sammy was here.

When Matt checked the Uber driver who brought us to the hospital- his name was Joy! 

God answered all the things I believed Him for that mattered. Sammy was 11 days early so he wasn't born on the 1st. I felt that the contractions were less painful than with my second baby. Thank God for this miracle.