Home Birth

Just over three months ago our third son - Benjamin John - was born...at home. Good or bad, I consider myself a play by the rules kind of person - and "the rules" don't promote home birth. So how did I find myself here?



Well - honestly it started with cost. A hospital birth without maternity insurance takes a bite out of the budget. But cost alone is not a good reason to make the decision to birth at home. So I did what I do best - research. I searched the Internet - I read books - I talked to home birthers - I interviewed midwives and doctors.



This is what I found...considering my two previous uncomplicated pregnancies - and easy/fast deliveries - I was an excellent candidate for home birth. When I didn't click with my new OBGYN - that sealed the deal.



So we hired Leah - a very skilled midwife - with more than 3000 births under her belt. She came to see us once a month and did all of our prenatal care. When I started contracting a month early - she realized that the baby had a hand up on his head and was causing false contractions.



After three weeks of false contractions - I was tired. Leah offered to move the baby's hand - and said if it was time then labor would start - if not we'd wait. So, on Wednesday, Nov 7, Nolan got the youth service started and then we headed home to meet Leah. About 7:45 p.m. she moved the baby's hand (and yes it hurt a little). About 45 minutes later - the real contractions started. Nolan and I put the boys to bed and hung out - Leah and her husband went to eat - a couple of girls from Mpact (our youth group) stopped by to see what a lady in labor looks like. I noticed if I stood up things got more intense - if I sat down things slowed down. Leah came back around 10 or 10:30 - I was a 5. We visited. I sent Leah to bed at 11 and Nolan and I followed shortly thereafter. He slept - I laid there. Finally at 12:30 I thought if I'll get out of bed and walk around we can get this show on the road. So I went to the living room - turned on HGTV - and walked in circles. About 1 a.m. things got a little more intense and I thought I'd have Leah come check me again - but another show came on tv - and it just so happened that one of my friends from high school was in this episode of house hunters - so I watched it while my contractions continued to get stronger. At 1:30 a.m. I woke Nolan up and Leah checked me - I was a 9. They quickly got the supplies together in the bedroom - while I continued to walk (and moan). Then I sat on the bed - Leah broke my water - I leaned back and two pushes later Benjamin was born at 2:05 a.m. on November 8, 2007. Now in the meantime, Isaac woke up and was present for the birth of his brother (not planned - but pleasant) and Benjamin's cord was wrapped around his neck three times - Leah didn't sweat it - just had me pause in pushing - unwrapped the cord and finished delivering him. Caleb joined us shortly after that - and we had a wonderful time. All along we intended to name this baby Bo. But as Caleb and I sat on the bed with the baby he said we should name him Benjamin. A few minutes later as I was cleaning up in the bathroom - Nolan asked what I wanted to name him - I said Benjamin John - and Nolan said - that's what I was thinking. So Bo became Benjamin - son of good fortune.



The best part of the entire experience was not in the home birth - but in the home recovery. The next few days were so amazing.

Fear

Have you ever heard the old saying, "the best way to kill a frog is to put him in a pan of cold water and then slowly turn up the heat"? I was thinking about that today and applied it to how my devotional life is so different than it once was - I'm not dead yet - but the heat is on high. Somehow during the past few years I've lost the passion that I once had for God. And I want it back. Being the "preacher's wife" I'm full of advice on that particular subject...but how to apply it to my life is so much harder. Do I like writing these words for everyone to see? No. I feel like a failure. But if by chance I succeed in jumping out of this pan of hot water - I want others to see how.

I feel like I've been strangled by fear. I've decided somewhere along the line that flying under the radar is safer than making a difference for God. When it comes down to it...I haven't trusted God to take care of my family if we got to high on Satan's hit list. I want to trust God again.

Do you hear me, Lord? Show me how. Forgive me.

I would like to thank....

Thankfully none of my children have had to be in the hospital for any reason - other than birth. But that changed this weekend, when Benjamin (our 3 month old) went in for three days with RSV. I took him to the doctor Thursday with what I thought was probably an ear infection. Within thirty minutes our plans for a weekend ski trip with our youth group were changed to a hospital stay complete with breathing treatments every 4 hours and the remaining time in an oxygen tent. So many people went above and beyond in helping us - so like they do at the Oscars - I would like to thank....

First of all, my amazing husband finished the preparations for the ski trip, got them on their way (with new lead sponsors), preached an impromptu message at our church's food outreach, and still managed to get me a few things that I needed at the hospital - and that was in the first six hours - after that he camped out at the hospital with me and Benjamin - and still managed to keep track of the skiers and prepare a Sunday morning and Sunday evening sermon (to preach in place of our senior pastor) - and most importantly provide the emotional support I needed especially as breathing treatments replaced my much needed beauty rest.

Our senior pastor and his wife (Mike and Betty) graciously volunteered to take the youth group skiing so Nolan could stay with us and the youth wouldn't have to be disappointed by canceling the trip. (They really went above and beyond as they ended up in the ER two different times with kids with broken bones.)

Krystine Ramsey, a sweet girl and former Mpact Youth Group member, ran errands during her lunch break - raiding my house for various things I needed - and bringing me a sweet tea from McD's.

Chris and Pat Mendenhall - transported Caleb and Isaac (age 4 and 3) two hours to my brother and sister-in-law's house.

Seth and Katie Wieck (my sweet brother and his even sweeter wife) took wonderful care of two hyper boys for 4 days.

Our wonderful doctor, Dr. Jenny McGaughey and the staff at Ochiltree General Hospital - including our great nurses and respitory therapist took outstanding care of Benjamin and Nolan and me!

And most of all - God - the creator and sustainer of life and the great physician.

An update: We've been at home for 4 days - Benjamin is doing well. We are continuing breathing treatments and have a check up tomorrow morning.

I feel kind of silly writing this post...I have friends that have dealt with much more serious situations - that I can't imagine going through. If anything I think this slight hiccup in our lives reminds me to pray more for those we love who experience hard times.