My Birthing Story with Samuel David

                                 "A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul..." Prov 13:19

                          So for those of you who are interested, here is my full birth story.

         It started at 3:30am Sunday Jan4th when my water broke (40weeks and 2days). My labor did not start so off we went to the birth center to see if we could get things going (since we had a 24 hour window to get labor going before I would have to transfer to the hospital to be induced). Thankfully my Mama was able to join us! So we all go out and walk and check back in every few hours at the center. We walked the Mall and Cabelas and ate out which was lots of fun. After hours of walking, stair climbing, blue cohosh, and a little bit of castor oil (big yuck) labor finally started around 8pm. I was so thankful I had the water room that I wanted so I was able to labor in a huge tub and it was lovely! My mama and my sweet husband where such a help and great labor support. My honey was very comforting through labor pains. I feel like that experience bonded us even closer...that complete reliance on each other. I felt like our whole little family was working together in perfect unity in the great effort of labor. Samuel was doing his part working his way down the birth canal, my husband was supporting me and giving me strong hands to hold, and my Mama was so comforting.

          After what seemed an eternity, my body was telling me to push at 3:30am Monday morning. I was so very tired at this point. But thankfully an hour and a half later Samuel arrived!!! It was the most pain I have ever been in but the most beautiful event I have ever witnessed! As soon as I put him on my chest it was pure joy!!! I was so thankful he nursed right away! I really loved being at the Birth Center it was a wonderful peaceful environment to bring my baby into!

         Things started to take a turn for the worst when my placenta would not come out. We tried a few things at the center for about an hour then I started to hemorrhage. So off I went to the hospital (which was right at the end of the birth center's street). I had lost conciseness twice from the blood loss. They quickly gave me a blood transfusion and sent me to the O.R. for the placenta to be removed (like a D&C). Poor Noah was more traumatized than I, I was just so tired and out of it at that point in time. Five hours later I got my baby back (he had to stay at the center with my Mama). So we stayed at the hospital for 24 hours of monitoring and then we were able to go home.

         I thank everyone who was praying for us. There were so many little blessing along the way of the difficult aftermath. 1. Baby nursed before I left for the hospital and then just slept for the five hours I was away. 2. The nurses let Noah and Baby spend the night with me even though I was the only one admitted and they normally don't let visitors sleep overnight. 3. The hospital was so close. 4. Every single person I came in contact with was so kind and helpful. 5.The nurses told me that because of how much blood I had lost that I would have a lot of difficultly nursing and that it would take a while to get my milk in....that was NOT the case! Thankfully my milk was in at day 3 and has been going strong!

         So that's our story! It ended differently than I expected but God's hand was over us and all ended very well. As much as I loved my pregnancy I am so happy to have Samuel here and not in my belly anymore! It was all an incredible experience and I would do it all over again in God's time! Thank you again my dear friends for all your prayers and support!