Birthin' Baby R

Each child is such a precious blessing, a uniquely created being, with their own set of fingerprints, mind, imagination, relationships, personality, etc... Our dearest second child, a girl, was born in late October. While this pregnancy was almost exactly two years after our first, she proved to be her own person very early on. Her birth was very emotional for all in attendance, but the joy that filled the room is something I can still feel!

Labor began on October 23rd. Then it stopped. It started again the next day. And stopped again. Labor proceeded like this for a week, before I finally gave up and decided to sleep in my own bed on October 29th (I had been sleeping on the main floor near the bathroom, anticipating active labor).

I woke up just after midnight, startled and unsettled. I decided to get up and use the bathroom, hoping the change of position would help get me back to sleep faster. But instead, I found labor starting again and moving quickly. I woke my mom (who had been staying with us) and called Ben's mom and sisters to come before waking Ben. Mavis arrived about 2 am and Shoshannah shortly after. I seemed to be the only one convinced that labor was moving as fast as it was. By 4 am I was ready to deliver baby girl!

After a few contractions, though, it was determined that she had turned (possibly what woke me up) and was delivering frank breech (butt first). We seriously discussed calling an ambulance and transferring into the hospital for assistance with the delivery. A lot of prayers were said. A lot of breathing was done. And as I fought through my fears, I realized I trusted God and Mavis with this child. No EMT would be better prepared than Mavis. And if baby hadn't delivered before arriving at the hospital, I knew I would be "strongly encouraged" to deliver via emergency c-section (for which I would have been put under general anesthetic). While none of these options were my ideal, God was holding this precious little one.

Once I verbalized my decision to stay, an overwhelming sense of peace came over me and the entire group. We kept the phone close and adjusted our focus and concentrated on getting baby out quickly and keeping her warm. It was as if we had all rehearsed this birth. Each one working together to care for mother and baby. No one needing to say a word. Just doing what we each knew we needed to do.

Just before 6 am, baby girl's body and shoulders delivered, very pink and squirmy. I took a second to breath, preparing to deliver her head, and realized the contractions had stopped. I took a deep breath and without a word from anyone, I pushed, delivering her beautiful little head...and she whimpered!

Daddy fist pumped the air, big brother shouted "yay!", and we were all in tears. The joy in the room was overwhelming. Baby girl took a moment to really cry, but once she found her lungs, she let us know she was not happy! We monitored her closely for several days, looking for signs of difficulty breathing, but our little princess was absolutely perfect!

With all the emotion of the delivery, she was almost three days old before she was given her name. My beautiful Baby R brings such joy to my life. I would not change a moment of her delivery, because it is her unique story and for all of the challenges, it really was as perfect as she is!

Baby R
October 30, 2003
19 inches and almost 9 lbs.