Childbirth

I think that it's one of the few chances in life to assist God with a miracle.

I'll confess, there are several parts of pregnancy I don't enjoy, but overall I love it.  Don't get me wrong, I do get big and awkward, moody and especially the last couple months of being pregnant in the heat of summer I was pretty much miserable. What can I say; my husband is a lucky man.

But thank the Lord those 10 long months finally come to an end.   Yes 10 months, why people say 9, I'm not sure.  40 weeks, do the math.  And it my case it was longer than 40- Wyndham was 41 ½ weeks and Paisley was 40 weeks and 2 days.  While I may be a big, moody and a grouch, childbirth I love.

I never thought I'd be the type who would actually enjoy giving birth. It's intense and scary and messy and I don't care what you say, Gisele, or anyone else for that matter, it hurts.  OOHHH EEEMM GEE does it hurts. But at the end you feel so strong, so capable and so powerful.  And those moments after bringing my girls into the world, it is magical, there is no other way to describe it but magical. It is the most painful thing I've done in my life, but it is manageable.  The way God designed for the contractions to come in waves, you do get reprieve. At the end when they are lasting 2 minutes every minute it's not really much reprieve, but still it helps J

It is like there is a sudden connection I felt to every other woman who had brought a baby into the world. My mom, my grandmother, my sisters, my friends and prayerfully one day my own daughters. Across continents, cultures and  time. Women who have labored at home and in hospitals, had cesareans, went natural or had medication. Every experience so intensely personal and yet shared by so many.

I although I dislike the pain of it all, I do in a strange way enjoy it.  I love the power in that, the intensity, the focus, the desperation. The wanting to make it end, not because of the pain but the crazy anticipation to meet your baby, this miraculous creation.   After all of those hours spent enduring and just getting through, you're finally able to DO something.

And then, suddenly and finally, it's over and she's being handed to me. This baby who grew inside of me, this baby whose face I've imagined for all those months is here, real, in this world with me. It's not often that you are so totally aware of being in the middle of a moment that will change your life forever.

Of course, had my labor or delivery had serious complications- I'm sure this would be a very different post.  But I am thankful that it is not. 

Aside from a slight issue with the admitting Doc with our second born and a long labor with our first, we really didn't have any issues. The moment they were out it was like any traumas of the last 10 months just melted away and Ryan and I had never been happier or more in love. I recovered quickly with both of my girls (aside from a few stretch marks…) and really everything goes back to normal after a little bit of time.  I am so thankful to God for allowing me to have children and allowing me to be a part of that miraculous experience.