All day on the baby's due date I prayed for labor to start. With an induction scheduled for the next morning, I prayed that the contractions I had daily would push on over. But alas, as with the previous two, my body failed me and having dealt with gestational diabetes, induction was recommended sooner rather than later.
Monday, March 11 I awoke at 5 am to read, pray and prepare for the day. I cried out for grace and endurance for the day. Especially with having to have an IV, which is always the worst part for me, I was struggling with being forced into labor yet again. But God's way is best, and in spite of the struggle I was at peace with what needed to be done. I cleared out my email and facebook while Jim put our bags in the car. Around 6 am we headed out, stopping at Chick-fil-A for breakfast. I enjoyed a delicious chicken biscuit and a few hash browns to start me for the day.
We arrived at Piedmont and found a great parking spot! We headed to labor and delivery and arrived right on time at 7:30 am. No one else was there, so we were able to check in immediately and went straight to a room. My nurse, Azra, came fairly quickly after I changed to get me admitted and hooked up to the monitor. We enjoyed chatting as she got the baby on the monitor and started my IV. Baby looked excellent and thankfully she did an amazing job with my IV! Still the hardest part for me, but better than any other I've had with little residual pain afterward!
Around 8:30 am pitocin was started to get the few contractions I had stronger so I would actually go into labor. Dr. Vanoyan came in soon after it started to check my starting dilation. I was around 2 cm and still pretty thick, but she could not feel a presenting part. They brought in an ultrasound machine to confirm the baby was head down. It was slightly transverse, but the head was down near the pelvic opening as it should be. I told her I needed to stand up and let the contractions put the baby into position. (This happened with my last two!) I could tell she was doubtful and said several times that if anything came down other than a head I would be going for a c-section! I told her I knew that and stood up to let the baby move down.
Around 9:30 they got a monitor for me so I could walk around the room and not just stand by the bed. This was a God-send as I really wanted to walk the halls but couldn't because of the pitocin. During this time Jim got the diffuser going with my Ground Blend and Joyful Blend and turned on my labor playlist which allowed me to focus on God more than the labor. Once I was able to move around the room I walked, sang praises to my God, prayed, enjoyed some chicken stock with Integral Collegen, and played Othello/Reversi with Jim. I even talked the nurse into bringing me some jello! It was SO GOOD! (How I knew I needed sustenance! I hate jello!)
Contractions increased as they turned up the pitocin. They grew in strength but they were all bearable and moved the baby down where it needed to be. It was such a wonderful time of fellowship with God and Jim as we waited and sang and talked. Time was non-existent. Before I knew it, it was 2 pm and Dr. Vanoyan wanted to check my progress. I was 4 cm and mostly thinned, and she could feel the head!!! Praise the LORD! We decided to break my water and get things moving even more. There was meconium in the fluid, so it was definitely the best decision to make! And in spite of my ultrasound a few weeks earlier there was still a decent amount of fluid.
After she got as much fluid out as she could, I got up to the bathroom and got comfortable in bed, sitting in a high fowlers position to keep baby in the right place. God graciously let me sleep during this time. I listened to music that praised Him while I slept. At 4:30 pm I woke up refreshed and ready for the next phase. One more trip to the bathroom and transition came. While the contractionswere more intense they were still not unbearable. Jim held my hips and applied pressure to provide added relief. We worked together as transition progressed with each contraction. I got on the bed to kneel after a few minutes so my knees would not give way.
Around 5:00pm Dr. Vanoyan came to check progress and said, "You're ready to have a baby! I only feel a lip." I was shocked because I did not yet feel the need to push! But by the time they got my bed ready I pushed one time with all the strength God gave me and the baby was born!
I looked at Jim and asked, "What do we have?" Laughing, Jim looked at me as they put the baby on my chest and said, "Another boy!" I started laughing too. "Another boy!" I said and looked at this precious gift God has given us, yet again! And I marveled at His amazing grace and goodness.
Because of the meconium, they took him after a minute to clear him out and make sure he did not breathe in any of the meconium. Dr. Vanoyan finished getting me cleaned up while they worked on him, so by the time she finished I got him back. Very quickly after delivery, he latched on the breast and began nursing well! Another great act of grace from God!
Once everything settled down, Jim and I began the task of naming this new babe. What name would fit such an amazing blessing and the call God has for him? We went through our lists and books, looking at meaning, spellings and sound. Jim held the baby for a bit while I got up to go to the bathroom and got a good look at him. I got back in bed and began nursing again while we talked. Jim said, "What about Timothy?" This name had not been on our radar but in the books it said it meant honored of God. I said, "Timothy," and he looked. We talked a little more and revistited other names, but God made it clear his name should be Timothy and Uriah his middle name, which means God is my light. (Since coming home we looked up Timothy in Bible commentary that says it means One Who Honors God and our prayer is that he will be a man who honors God!)
We are so grateful for this precious gift from God!
