I have been wanting to write out the story of Raina's birth while the details are fresh in my mind... so this post is mostly for me. If you like those details, read on. If you are content to know that the Lord has lovingly granted us another healthy little girl, you can skip this entry. :)
I feel blessed to have had three uncomplicated, smooth, and unmedicated pregnancies and deliveries. Elisa came after about 12 hours of Lamaze-style labor, and Sadie arrived in a fast and furious two-hour birth. We had planned to try the Bradley method of natural labor, but her delivery was so intense and emotional coming on the heels of my daddy's death that we were unprepared and thankful God allowed her to come so quickly. This time around, I felt God nudging me to rely solely on His grace and not on a secular method of childbirth. So instead of preparing with exercises or breathing regiments, we prepared with prayer and Scripture. We prayed for specifics, like for our baby's neck to be free from the cord, and his or heart to be strong and steady. And I prayed that God's grace and power would be showcased in my body as I labored, that His strength would be reveled in my weakness, that His peace would fill my heart and mind, and that I would handle each contraction with grace and valor. I don't know about the grace and valor part, but I do know that God's grace filled the hours of laboring with Raina and that it was His strength that sustained us.
(In the moments before my membranes were ruptured.)
On Monday, I had visited the doctor and was dilated enough to be considered in active labor, despite having only irregular and mild contractions. That afternoon and night, my contractions became more persistent and consistent, but I was still not in the hard work of labor. I alternated between sleeping through them, and laying awake feeling the contractions strengthen slightly.
In the morning, Erik and I decided to head to the hospital. We knew I was not in hard labor, but given my advanced dilation and history of precipitous labor, we decided to head in at a safe, early time, knowing they would break my water to put me in labor. (Our doctor had given us the option of coming in at any time for that purpose.) Our doctor ruptured my water at about 8:00 Tuesday morning and within minutes, the contractions picked up strength and speed. We were able to walk around the hospital for about two hours before strong back labor led me to ask our nurse to fill the hydrotherapy tub. Walking was a blessing; Erik and I talked and held hands and prayed as contractions grew stronger and more frequent. Once in the tub, my backache subsided and contractions continued to intensify. I had printed a list of precious Bible verses to meditate on, and Erik read them to me several times in his strong, soothing voice as I closed my eyes and breathed deeply through each contraction. It was amazing just to lean back, breathe, and concentrate on the Lord's sweet promises.
After an hour or so in the tub, I could feel I was in transition. My body was trembling and I was intently focused on maintaining deep breathing. We moved to the room, where I nested myself in a bed of pillows and tried to relax my body. I began to just pray with each contraction - "God, I know your grace is sufficient for me." I started feeling pressure, and the nurse checked me. I was 8-9 cm, and she phoned our doctor to hurry. He arrived about fifteen minutes later, and there was now just an anterior lip of cervix. He told me to push with the next contraction, and I did, with all my might! After two contractions, a beautiful baby girl was placed on my abdomen. I saw Erik's shining eyes and tender smile, and I cried. I remember just saying, "Thank you, Jesus," over and over. Every prayer had been answered. We are so grateful for this sweet gift!
Raina has several meanings depending on origin and spelling. The meaning we chose is Hebrew - "song of the Lord." Her middle name, Abigail, means, "her father's joy." We pray Raina's life will be a song of praise that will delight her Heavenly Father!
In the quiet bliss after she arrived
