Due Date

4potato’s birth story

September 10, 2009 by mamakay Leave a Comment

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4Potato’s Birth Story

4Potato’s arrival was the longest anticipated birth. We thought she was due December 29^th but she did not arrive until January 20^th.

She was born at 10:12 a.m. Jan 20th after 14 hours of labor. Out of those 14 hours only 2+ hours seemed like hard labor. I went into labor between 7 & 8 p.m. on Wednesday night. We called Paul’s parents over to spend the night after several false calls. I had been feeling like my body was preparing for labor although I hadn’t actually been having contractions yet… Things weren’t too intense but I was definitely in labor. We went to bed for awhile and things picked up around 2 am. We called the midwife to come over. Labor was pretty intense for an hour or so after Donna got here but then let up. So we went back to bed for awhile. I can’t really remember what happened after this. At some point after the sun came up my labor picked back up and I took a shower. Donna checked me afterward and I was at 7 cm as usual. She got ready for the baby’s arrival much earlier this time since 3potato had surprised her. After a couple of pushes we had another beautiful girl at 10:12 am. She weighed 7 lbs and was 21 inches long. Although she was later than we expected the midwife commented that she actually looked early. We were just off on our due date and I was so glad that we waited on God’s timing instead of inducing labor based on our timing.

This poem helped me get through the very long wait for 4potato’s arrival.

Waiting

by Robin Jones Gunn

Dear Baby, here beneath my heart,

I thought that you might come today;

The timing seemed just right.

But the stars are out

And the moon is high

And sheepishly I wonder why

I try to arrange the plans

of God.

For now I know

You will not come

Until the One who holds eternity

Rustles your soft cocoon

And whispers in tones that I will not hear,

“It’s time, precious gift.”

“Now it’s time.”

Almost Time

September 5, 2007 by mamakay 1 Comment

I am always amazed at how time seems to fly and yet to go by so slowly at times. I was so happy to see the month of August come to an end! We are in the zone now awaiting the birth of this new little one. Anxious to see if it will be a girl or a boy this time and when he/she will make their appearance. I try to be careful not to get my heart set on a particular day especially after 4potato’s birth. (We were off on our due date by 3 weeks!) I try to prepare each day as if the baby may be here tomorrow but that it might also be a couple more weeks.

Our 2 year old was so cute this weekend. We set up the crib for the baby in our room on Saturday and Sunday morning 4potato came in our room when she woke up and looked in the crib. She said, “Ah, no baby, maybe next time.” She was sure there was going to be a baby there when she woke up. I think she is going to be another great big sister around here.

I am using a new midwife this time around. In fact, its a group. There will most likely be 3 ladies attending the birth this time — the certified midwife, a senior student midwife and a lower level student midwife. I think it is a great mentoring method they are using but I’m also a bit anxious about having so many people at the birth although I guess there were at least that many at the hospital and at the birth center. Our last 2 births though only had me, dh & my midwife while my in-laws were watching our girls in another part of the house.

I’m also trying something new this time. I am taking the 5W herbs. It includes: Black cohosh root, Squaw vine herb, Dong quai root, Butcher’s broom root, and Red raspberry leaves. They are supposed to help tone my uterus to make it more productive and may speed up the time I spend in labor. I’m curious whether or not it will make a difference. My labors have been getting longer. (My first was just over 8 hours, my second was about 7 hours, my third was 12 1/2 hours and my fourth was about 14 hours although my last 2 were easier just longer.)

I can’t wait to meet this new little one!

Deliver Me, O LORD!

November 15, 2006 by mamakay 3 Comments

The due date for the baby we lost to miscarriage earlier this year was yesterday and I find myself grieving once more. I lost more than the baby. I lost myself. God has been peeling back the layers and revealing who I really am and what my purpose in this life is. I know that he is doing a good work in me refining me for his good purpose but the pruning hurts so terribly much. As I wallowed in my pain today I opened my Bible and he gave me this passage:

Psalm 143 — A Psalm of David.
Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.

For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah.

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge!

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life!

In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.

I pray that though I may suffer that I will glorify him through it all! He upholds me in his hand and never allows more than I can bear. My life is for Him not my own pleasures or desires although he is gracious in allowing many of those. I am to glorify him. And so I say that although he has allowed this pain in my life he has brought me to such a greater understanding of who he is and who I am. He loves me so much that he was unwilling to allow me to continue down the path I was on but pulled me back to himself. What a merciful Father I have that while I am steeped in sin He loves me enough to rescue me and pay the price himself for my salvation. Blessed be his name in all the earth!