Haven Neriyah 4/25/12

  Now that Haven is almost two months, I am thinking I should probably post her birth story... I have had a few mommas-to-be ask, so here it is... This is a difficult blog to write because a baby's birth is always so personal. I don't know how to start off writing this other than asking... Who am I? I am a person like anyone else who has dreams, goals and plans. I had a plan in mind for Haven's birth, but who am I that the Lord would care about my hopes? All I can say is this story is not about me...not about Haven...not about Aaron, but about the Lord God Almighty Who answers prayers. Sometimes in the ways we hope and dream for, other times the way He plans...

  Tuesday April 24th, I had a non-stress test to be sure Haven was healthy and doing good since she was a week "past her due date." The morning of the test I was completely stressed. My cat was sick and was taken to the vet by my mother-in-law while I was on my way to the hospital for the test and Aaron was at school. Long story short, baby girl looked great, Momma not so much. My blood pressure was around 160 and was not going down. Anxious about my kitty and being at the hospital (I hate very much dislike hospitals) I could not get my blood pressure down. With that being the case, the doctor wanted me to come in on Friday if I hadn't had the baby. This meant more than likely I would be induced.

  I really did not want to be induced. I had done as much preparing mentally as a soon-to-be new mom could with reading some fantastic resources (ask me about them if you are interested). Induction was not part of the plan. I was going to wait until this little one was ready. Things looked good for her coming before that, but you just never know with babies. If she decided to come on Thursday I would not have my doctor (he has Thursdays off), and if she came Friday I'd be induced. I was really praying and asking everyone to pray that she came that day or the next.

  This is what MY birth plan looked like:

• To go natural (no medications; to minimize the likely hood of a Cesarean and other medical interventions.)
• To not be induced
• To have my doctor
•  To labor at home for as long as possible
• To NOT throw up (I am terrified of throwing up!)
• To not tear
• To not have an IV and eat and drink on my own
• Only having Aaron, the nurses and I in the L&D room

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. That afternoon after the non-stress test, I spent some time crying out to God and asking for Him to make this possible. Wondering when I would go into labor. 

  I was having contractions off and on throughout the week but nothing really lasted. Later that afternoon they started getting closer. I tracked them and they were still 6-7 minutes apart and then would get further apart after about 45 minutes. That evening I fell asleep and awoke to some cramping and going to the bathroom. I had contractions the past few nights so didn't think anything would come of it. At 12:55am I woke up and could no longer go back to sleep. I thought to myself, "Could this be it?!" I started tracking again and around 3:00am Aaron woke up. He noticed I was in some discomfort and asked if I was in labor.

 "I think so?" I replied.

"How long are your contractions lasting? And how often?" He asked.

"Every 3-4 minutes lasting about a minute."

"Jess, you are in labor."

"I'm not sure, so I didn't want to wake you."

We continued to track them together for another 2 hours before calling my family who lived 3 1/2 hours away. After we called, I decided I was really starting to get uncomfortable and I tried to take a shower to relax. They were about 2.5-3 minutes apart and we decided to head to the hospital. Really needing to relax and moan through the contractions now, we get to the hospital. They check and omit me at 7 cm dilated. 

"Wow!" I told myself. "I'm at a 7!!" This was exactly the extra boost of energy I needed. We got comfortable in our room and the contractions really started to be on top of each other. Within an hour I was at an 8. I insisted on no IV and no medication. It was difficult, but I was feeling great after that knowledge of what I was dilated to. I thought to myself, I'm almost to the transition stage and ready to push. In another hour they checked me and I was at an 8.5-stretchy 9. "Okay, things are slowing down. This is normal when you get to the hospital though." I told myself. Then the nurses informed me that I had something called an anterior cervical lip. (Where one side of my cervix was not completely dilated. Probably because I labored through the night on my side.) With that happening, the nurses encouraged me to labor on my exercise ball, switch sides, etc. I did this and ended up being stuck between the 8.5-9.5 for a few hours. Anyway, after several contractions of wanting to push and not being able to until I was completely dilated, around 12:10 I was finally able to start pushing. 

  Pushing was probably the weirdest thing I have ever experienced. (It kind of feels like terrible constipation where you put all of your energy into one push). By now, I was exhausted after several hours of drawn out labor due to my anterior cervical lip, but Aaron continued to encourage me that I could do it. 

"You are almost there...Remember how you will want to give up, right before it's over? We're almost there, baby." He encouraged me with.

"Okay, I can do this," I told myself. After 15 minutes of trying to figure out a rhythm, I finally got it down and was able to push for about 30 minutes. She then started crowning and the doctor came in. He insisted on asking me one last time if I wanted any medication before the "ring of fire." I responded with a "No!" I had made it THIS far... As I'm pushing her out the very last bit, my doctor says, "Jessica, look!" I look down and there is my beautiful daughter coming out of me as I continue to push. The most AMAZING thing ever!!! They clean her off and hand her to me. Thankfully, because I was able to go without an epidural, Haven and I were 100% alert and staring into each other eyes. Such a beautiful, perfect moment. My husband, baby, and I all together. I was so exhausted that all that I could say was, "To GOD be the GLORY!"

  "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you," (Matt. 7:7). I don't know why Haven's birth went so well, it definitely wasn't anything I deserved. I don't understand why God loves me and cares about the small things like a birth plan, but I am beyond grateful. All I can say is that I specifically asked God for what I wanted, and I believe He answered them so He would receive all the glory and worship.

 I had a lot of friends ask about Haven's birth so I wanted to share with them, but above all, share with you that God does answer prayers so that He will receive the glory. (PS my niece was born TODAY!!)

Haven Neriyah born 4/25/12 in Room 425 at 1:06

 

 :)

The first hour got to be just Aaron, Haven and I. What a special moment.