Birth Version of Footprints In The Sand

         Birth Journey with Jesus

  I had a first time momma come into the birthcenter 

  in active labor. She was the most real, sweet girl and

  I loved her from the start!   Her husband was also  

  very special to me because he was a friend of my   d    daughters and I had prayed for him during a difficult time in his life (I'll tell you that story in a different blog!)

So here we were on the big day and momma was working hard.  She got into the birth pool and I saw on her face that things were getting serious.  She was moaning the whole time.  Before, during and after a contraction she would make the Ahhhhhhh sound.  It never changed pitch and it was constant the whole time.  Her eyes were closed and the Ahhhhhhh continued.(you have to close your eyes and make this sound until your breath runs out and that's what she sounded like.)  It looked as though she were somewhere else because she didn't respond to any of the hushed noises in the room.  We kept looking at each other because we could see the signs that her labor was progressing.  Her cheeks were getting rosier and rosier and the focused unwavering intent on her face to not be moved was astounding.  A couple of times I tried to say encouraging things to her but felt like she was listening to someone else and stopped.  Her Ahhhhh's were getting lower and she opened her eyes and said "I want you to check me."  So she got out of the tub and I checked her and she was complete!  I said "Emily, your done with this part.  All you have left to do is push out your baby!"  She shut her eyes and valiantly pushed for 30 minutes and daddy caught their beautiful 8lb 12oz baby girl in a quiet peaceful room.  I heard her quietly say "Thank you Jesus" as tears streamed down her face! 

Later after she had taken her herbal bath with her baby girl she began to tell us about her birth.  She said when she began active labor she got scared and asked Jesus to help her.  She told Him she was afraid and she didn't know what to do.  Then with light in her eyes she said that Jesus showed up and they were standing on the beach.  He said to her "Take my hand and walk with  me."  She did as he said and the whole time she was laboring (Ahhhhh....) they were walking side by side down the beach.  She said she just kept looking up into his eyes.  Then He said to her "You see that bridge up in the distance?"  She nodded her head to her Lord.  He said "When we get to that bridge you will be done."  She continued walking (Ahhhhh....) It was shortly after that time that she looked up and they were standing at the bridge.  Jesus was smiling at her.  She asked me to check her and that's when she was complete.  As she tells her story we all have tears running down our faces!  She said "Ann, I walked with Jesus!"  She seemed as excited about that as she was that she was holding the fruit of her journey and labor.

This young woman was not crazy or weird.  She was just in love with Her new Lord and had depended on Him for everything since she met Him.  He was there at her birth and we were privileged to be able to watch her labor and birth her baby from a power and grace that was not her own. 

Paramedic Panic!

Paramedic Panic!

A hundred years ago, which is what I say if I don't remember when it was,  I was with Donna at a home birth.  The Momma was laboring nicely and we expected this to be a quick easy labor since she had had numerous children before.  On one of our heartbeat checks we found the baby's heartbeat to be about 40 beats a minute which is dangerously low.  Donna checked her to see if birth could be imenent and she was 4cm dilated.  We knew we had to get this Momma to the hospital now or we could lose this baby!  Donna jumped into the car with the client and I followed behind in Donna's car.  Those of you who know me know that Donna would never let me drive her car, which only knows a life of a pokey slow pace, for fear of the car getting a taste of the fast lane!.  The matter at hand was more important so the "Oh no your not!" moment got away from her.  Hee Hee!  I was driving her car about 90 miles an hour!  We were terrified at the moment for this baby and what was happening but I can be nonchalant in the telling of my story because I know the ending! 

The whole way to the hospital the woman kept saying "I'm not going to have my baby at a hospital!"  "I'm not!"  She was laboring hard but being very adamant about this statement.  She was 4cm so chances were she was definitely going to have her baby in the hospital and probably by cesearean!  We pulled into the hospital parking lot and I jumped from Donna's car over to the car they were in.  When I opened the back door the woman was lying in the back seat on her left side with her right leg thrown wide open over the front seat.  Donna had moved out of the car and placed herself at the opening of the other back door because this woman was having her baby in the hospital parking lot!  As the mom was pushing a paramedic came running up to the car and asked "Whats going on?"  Donna said "We are having a baby!"  The paramedic looked panic stricken and asked "Who are you?"  Donna replied "I'm the Midwife!"  The paramedic threw his hands up in the air and yelled "Thank you God!!"  I laughed out loud!  The woman pushed one more time and this baby came flying out!  The baby was kicking and screaming to our wonder and relief!  Yay!  Are you laughing or crying right now?  Well hold on the story doesn't end here! 

So Momma has done what she said and had her baby NOT in the hospital!  While we were waiting on the placenta a nurse came running up to the car.  She said "Is baby out?"  Donna replied "Yes, we are waiting on a placenta."  The nurse then said "The placenta won't come out with her in that position!  Get her on her back!"  To which Donna replied "Really?  Well watch this!"  This made me laugh!  Then Donna had her push and the placenta came out perfectly.  The paramedic and the nurse were pretty useless to us that day but I think they may have learned a thing or two! 

We had a healthy mom and a healthy baby in the back seat of a car.  Sometimes birth throws surprises at us and we get to see Him intervene on behalf of a mama and baby and show us that its His Deal....His Purpose... and yet again ...His Faithfulness! 

Donna never let me drive her car again.  :)  She has a new car these days.  I'm betting I don't get to drive it either!