No, not me, silly!

My friend Emily had a baby girl on Sunday.  The road to this little one’s arrival is a wonderful one, I think. 

Welcoming this new baby first required facing a hurdle not unlike the one John and I faced.  But God made a way and that obstacle was overcome.  Then a period of long-suffering and patience-building ensued.  Emily committed herself to prayer in this time and God used that time to grow fruit.  Last winter her prayers were answered and a new baby was expected. 

To say the pregnancy was rife with trials is putting it too mildly.  Multiple trips to the hospital and significant pain dotted the middle months.  I am not exaggerating what-so-ever when I tell you that it is a miracle Emily is alive, much less her little girl.  At one point gross prematurity was predicted, if not fetal loss entirely.  Many prayers were said, and many, many times they were answered. 

The last month or so was a relief on the point that the little girl she carried had reached viability.  However new pains and concerns arose and the activities of daily living were tiresome.  Two weeks ago, at about 38½ weeks the doctor mentioned the option of induction.  Emily said it was hard to say no given her tremendous discomfort, but she did.  She spent more time praying for the LORD to reveal His plan and His timing to her.  She waited out the weekend and saw the doctor again on Monday at 39w1d.  In significant pain, the doctor again offered her induction.  It was much harder this time to say, “No,”  as she was being encouraged heavily on many sides to embrace this option.  It is only fair to point out she was also encouraged heavily to wait on God.  She wasn’t quite there yet and again declined and continued to pray that she would know God’s plan and that she would be able to wait for His timing.  Thursday afternoon, a week after the first offer for an induction her doctor called her at home and told her she was on a wait list to be induced Saturday morning.  At this point Emily conceded.  She hadn’t called the doctor, after all.  He called her.  Perhaps the LORD was working this way.

Saturday morning she called at 7:00 A.M., but was told they didn’t have a place for her to come in at that time.  Okay.  All those prayers for God’s will must be at play here, right?  Still, it was hard for her to hear.  She was instructed to call back at 10:00 A.M.  Again at ten she called, and this time she was told it wouldn’t be Saturday, but to call again Sunday morning at 10:00 A.M.  Okay?  Again, this must be according to the LORD.  It had been prayerfully handed over to Him to author His plan for this baby’s arrival.  Being that there was no baby coming on Saturday, I headed into work for the evening shift.

Early Sunday morning, at 12:30 A.M. (a/k/a late Saturday night) I crawled into bed after work.  At 2:30 A.M. the phone rang.  Emily had had some irregular but strong contractions and was heading to the hospital.  In a blur of activity I somehow dressed (including my stockings!), got my contacts in, combed my hair, and gathered my iPod, cell phone, camera, and money for the parking garage.  I was at the hospital by 3:10 A.M. and sat in the maternity waiting room awaiting admission.  Some lines were crossed and the minutes seemed like hours.  I was admitted after iPod to iPad conversation got me in there.  In what can only be described as a dream labor, Emily delivered her daughter at 4:12 A.M.  She had no moments of panicked begging to go home or irrational pleading for drugs.  Just a new baby girl.

Anna came on her due date.  Without intervention.  In a dream labor.  No drugs.  No epidural.  No artificial rupture of membranes.  Au natural.  And as I said, ON HER DUE DATE!

I’m excited about the testimony she has on waiting on the LORD.  I’m excited her doctor got to see her baby make it past all the dire predictions.  I’m excited that Emily gets to look at this little girl and see the fruit of her trust in God.

On another note —- it was WILD for me to be there.  I’ve been to a number of deliveries.  Um, all mine.  To be there for another person’s baby being born was incredible.  I will sort of admit I wish I hadn’t seen it when I am so close to delivering myself.  It was, um, a little gross.  And it reminded me of some of those painful bits I’d happily repressed.  😉  And, frankly, I had no idea my body did THAT.  But it was out of this world and I am so grateful I got to be there.

Two hours of sleep and all. 

♥