After my blog post ('Lessons Through Tears' written in June) I felt surrounded by the love and prayers of friends and family. My due date came and went, some of my fears becoming realities but I felt bathed in the the prayers of God's people. On Sunday 5th July I was blessed by the thoughtfulness and prayers of people at church, despite feeling sore and huge and overdue I was glad I had gone. Afterwards we stopped at Hamilton Lake and Andrew walked around with Zeke and Tazara. I sat in the car with my bible and journal and told God about all the horror stories and negative statistics I'd heard lately and asked him to lift me up out of all my fears. I talked to him about how hard the waiting was and asked him about his desires for me. It was a pleasant and comforting conversation and I really enjoyed some favorite psalms.
On Monday morning I went to get the groceries as usual hoping once again that they would be the last I'd get for a while. On the way home Tazara and I climbed Taupiri mountain together. I tried running up and down the stairs a few times (making up for the time it takes a two year old to climb) as I'd been doing for the last month or so hoping it might get baby down, turned or further along the journey.
After dinner I noticed my contractions were coming consistently 10 minutes apart. Through stories, devotions and kids bed time I prayed they'd keep coming and be effective. Some were quite strong. Andrew put two movies behind his back and had me choose one. As Andrew and I laid together watching Downton Abby I groaned now and then and had to change positions through the sharper contractions.
After the movie Andrew had some stuff to do online. I got on all fours and tried to help the contractions along. They still were only coming every ten minutes and only mildly painful. I was hesitant to say anything to Andrew because of the emotional roller-coaster of false labor I'd been riding for weeks. He asked if I was alright a couple times so I eventually told him. We got together my last minute list and I encouraged Andrew to try and get some sleep. I laid down getting up every ten minutes. It seemed a long time between contractions and a couple times I thought they might be slowing or stopping all together. They were lasting 2-2 1/2 minutes and were sharply painful both in my stomach and back. I tried all the positions I know to get things moving along and then flopped on the bed exhausted - half hoping labor would hold off a while. I might have fallen asleep for a couple minutes when the waters broke and gushed (12am).
Andrew jumped into action, he seemed excited that the long awaited event was finally here - things were happening. His energy was reassuring and reminded that I was excited too. I wasn't planning to call my midwife or go to the birth center until contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. I'd heard a lot about long labors with posterior babies so I climbed into the bath. The contractions were immediately considerably more painful and coming one after another.
Tazara got up and meandered her way to the toilet then took her sweet time sitting there. Not wanting to traumatize her I tried to hurry her along. Un-phased by my strange behaviour and noises she cheerfully told me "It's coming mama. It's coming." How true! She did her thing and then tottled off back to bed and dreamland. After Andrew tucked her in I told him we better get a move on. Andrew poured hot water down my back in between his comings and goings (loading the car and telling Dad Dickson we were leaving.)
When we started for town I began praying baby would wait until we got there. I'm not very good on the phone ordinarily and I'm especially uncomfortable with the idea of talking to anyone when I'm in labor but Andrew was driving and I realized no one was expecting us so I called the birth center. I asked them to get a bath ready for us. The gal who answered said I couldn't get in the door without my midwife. At my pleading she agreed to call Therese for me (I'd texted her from home with no reply).
We got there. They let us in. The bath wasn't ready. Therese wasn't there so the staff midwife asked me preliminary questions. I was holding myself together, holding out for the bath and aching for the relief of the warm water. Therese arrived and let me get in the tub even though not quite ready. I was so relieved. She asked if I felt ready to push. I could've started pushing in the car. With Zeke and Tazara's labors I couldn't help but push but this time I was really reluctant to let go and give way to pushing. Even in the water I felt anxious and scared to push. I held back for a couple more contractions but it was getting difficult not to push. Therese told me to transfer the fear into energy to push. Andrew knelt behind me and held me under the arms. It was hard work. I could feel Andrew's love and support. I prayed and prayed for God's strength and nearness. I gave all I got for a couple contractions and expected her to be out. Andrew told me to relax and rest until the next contraction (just what I needed to hear). And then the moment I'd been anticipating for sooo long - I held my baby girl in my arms, felt her warm soft skin against my face, heard her tiny cry.
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| Leaving River Ridge Birth Center with Roses from Andrew and my precious parcel. |
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| Meeting Aunty Lorraine |
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| Stories with Zeke (best big bro!) |
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| Sleepless nights! |
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| Part of the fam...watching Zeke and Zara play |
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Love our new little angel! xx |
