the birth of sophia rose
March 23rd started like any other day late in my pregnancy. I was 39 weeks and 3 days and ready to have our baby, but trying to keep my mind open to the long haul that could be.
We had a normal morning and our toddler went down for her nap after lunch. As she stirred to wake around 3pm, I let my husband know that I’d has 2-3 very mild contractions. I didn’t think much of it. We took our toddler on a walk where I continued to have mild contractions sporadically. My husband was convinced something was happening, but I wasn’t. We had plans to go to a banquet that night and I kept that in my plans. After another hour, the contractions were regular and getting stronger. I couldn’t deny that something was happening- we were probably going to meet our baby soon. I wanted to continue as normal and distract myself but I quickly realized that this baby was going to come sooner than I thought. We had to cancel our banquet plans and my mom came over to take over with our toddler.
“I couldn’t deny something was happening- we were probably going to meet our baby soon”
I clued in Grayce and our midwife and we started focusing on my contractions, still thinking that we had hours before we’d want to go to the hospital. I’d planned a low intervention birth and wanted to labor at home as long as I could. But things were moving surprisingly fast. By 6:30pm, I was feeling like it was almost time to go. Contractions were close together and intense. We told our team we were coming in and everyone met me at the entrance. Upon arrival I was 6cm and 80% effaced. I chose to decline any further interventions and distractions in my labor. No IV and no continuous monitoring. I was totally checked in about 7:15pm and it was time to refocus on relaxing and bringing our baby into our world. I, again assumed I had hours to go.
I went to the bathroom and moved around in the room trying to find comfortable positions. Eventually I got in the shower and the warm water on my back and belly was relaxing. I was only in the shower for a couple of contractions when I felt my belly tighten in a new way- like it was pushing something out- and suddenly my waters released. And that was the end of my shower.
“And that was the end of my shower”
I got out, someone dried me off, and I moved around a little before getting on my knees in the bed. My belly still felt like it was pushing instead of tightening. I stayed on my knees and faced the back of the bed with John* holding my hand and encouraging me the whole time. Grayce reminded me to slow my breaths and our midwife reminded me not to fight the surges. Everything was so intense and when I fought it, it became painful. The more I could relax, the more my body worked with me instead of against me. I reminded myself that MY body was made by God to birth MY baby. I was perfectly designed to do so and His power was perfect in my weakness.
“I reminded myself that MY body was made by God to birth MY baby”
My contractions couldn’t be any bigger than me because they were a part of me. 30 minutes later, at 9:46pm, our sweet Sophia was born, caught by our midwife and transferred into my arms.
I did it. Not by power or might but by surrender to the perfect design of women and our ability to birth.
Sophia measured in at 9lbs 2 oz and was 21.5” long. She was here, she was perfect, and our lives were forever changed.
*Some names have been changed
