On the Monday before this babe's arrival I timed contractions all day long. These contractions had been happening off and on the previous week, disrupting my sleep and making me antsy. Being a few days overdue and desperately wanting reprieve, I asked for a stretch and sweep at my midwife appointment that morning. By Tuesday, things had settled somewhat, much to my disappointment. The slow and gentle snowfall made for a quiet, peaceful afternoon. As things began picking up again, I timed contractions and waited patiently for progress. By evening everything had petered off once more. On Wednesday I met with my midwife and again spent the day timing contractions. My body was already so tired of laboring and I had high hopes that the next morning we would be bringing a baby home. On Thursday morning, I woke again to do the regular morning routine, so tired of laboring. After a week of almost constant contractions and two stretch and sweeps by my midwife, I started to lose hope that this baby would ever come!
As with all of my deliveries, I received a priesthood blessing from Mike before baby came. I was counseled to trust in God's timing. That I would look back on this and be able to recognize His hand in the experience. That I would feel joy as I held this babe in my arms. That I would be able to mentally handle the labor and that the pain would be manageable.
Finally, on Thursday evening around 7PM contractions had been close and painful enough to head to the hospital. I was having a hard time laboring at home with all of the noise and fighting, I needed a quiet space. My midwife met us without hesitation and I was dilated enough to stay (she would have let me even if I wasn't). We laughed about how this babe waited until it was good and cold (-40C) to make his appearance. Our babes always seem to come during a snowstorm or a cold snap.
I happily settled in, unpacking baby essentials, lip gloss, my water bottle, and a change of comfy clothes. After the freezing cold trip into town, my body took a bit to get back into the rhythm again. I took a warm bath and labored on my own in the tub. When things started picking up again, I walked and walked around the delivery room to help my body keep moving. Baby was happy and tumbling around still. Mike left every hour or so to quickly start the car and keep it warm.
Around 11pm I started feeling tired and defeated. This had literally been the longest labor of my life and I had been contracting all week long. I lied in the bed on my left side (as advised by my midwife) and after a few more contractions, my water broke and that familiar urge to push arrived. I mustered up all of the strength I had left and began the hardest part. My midwife team was amazing and encouraging and quietly worked where needed while I took deep breaths and pushed.
Mike stayed by my side, offering water during each interval and encouraging me along the way. After close to two hours of pushing in many different positions, I was close to giving up. I was sore and tired and mentally exhausted. Just when I uttered the words, "I can't do this anymore!" I was given strength for the final push that brought him earthside at 1:31am. He was immediately place on my chest and covered in a warm blanket. It was such a relief to finally meet him. He came out very purple and took a second to have his first cry. His forehead was bruised from his sunny side up entry.
They slowly clamped and cut the cord while I snuggled him and then he immediately nursed while the placenta was delivered and the midwives finished a few things up. He weighed in at 7lbs 15oz and was 20" long. Daddy got to snuggle him while I showered and cleaned up. Then we dressed him in some cozy sleepers and a warm mamma made hat and got ready to head home to our warm bed!
Mike and Lisa both went to warm up the vehicles, but when my midwife came back she told us her car wouldn't start. We happily gave her a lift home on our way out of town. Cooper slept all cozied up in his car seat for the entire drive home. At 4am, my dad, woken by the car lights coming up the drive way, sleepily rushed to the back door to unlock it for us. He briefly met Cooper before sending us both to bed. Mike tucked me and babe into bed with his heated blanket wrapped around us both. We slept soundly until the sound of little feet pitter-pattering into our room around 6am to crawl into our bed for snuggles.
This pregnancy has taught me to surrender to His will for my life in so many ways. It took a lot of faith and trust to respond the the prompting that there was another little one waiting to join our family. Things seemed pretty perfect with our girls as bookends to all of the boys. It took great hope to wait and wait for this pregnancy to finally become a reality. And it took great patience and trust as we anticipated his arrival. But I know that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for each of us, and as I have lived my life striving to know and follow the plan He has for me, I have been blessed with great joy time and time again.
