The week leading up to Jon Hudson's birthday was fairly touch and go. I might have expected false labor during the first pregnancy, maybe even the second....but definitely not the third. I was ready to have him before my third trimester even began, so possibly that made things a bit more intense. Twice my body began true labor. Twice it stopped. Once was so convincing that we were calling the sitters for the kids and preparing to call the doctor. The rest of life seemed to fade that week and all I could focus on was delivering that baby!! My sweet mom had come to stay and help as we waited for the day, not knowing for sure, but hoping it wouldn't be long. I'm sure Jackson and Josie were grateful for the attention lavished upon them by Mamma Z since I was quite limited at that point physically in what I could do. I counted contractions with a hopeful heart two nights that week until they abruptly stopped around 2am each time. I had finally had enough and called my doctor the morning of the 21st to move my appointment up. A main topic of concern was that because Josie had come so quickly that this labor was expected to be just as fast.....and since I had a condition that needed 4 hours of IV antibiotics prior to delivery (during labor), calculating this delivery was quite important. Two false starts had frustrated me and we were both worried that when it was the real thing....I wouldn't even make it to the hospital. I had been dilated to 4 cm for a week and effaced to a significant degree so we decided to strip the membranes, walk at the mall, and have this baby!! Jonathan was at work and the kids were at school that day, so Mom and I headed off the the mall. We shopped, had a snack, and I walked like crazy to keep the contractions going. Jonathan joined us from work and it was time for lunch, but I didn't want to stop, I wanted to just keep on going and walk that baby out! So, I got a snack I could eat while walking while he and Mom had lunch. The stares I got from onlookers was priceless. I'm sure the sight of a woman 9 months pregnant power walking through swanky Northpark mall with a cold determined glare, a 44oz Sprite, and a pretzel unnerved a few people :). I think I may have even walked circles around several of them. Keeping the contractions regular was easy while walking around so Mom and I headed to the hospital and called my doctor. Jonathan got the kids situated with several awesome friends who had volunteered to keep them so my mom could attend the delivery. The nurse at the hospital confirmed that I was in "regular enough" labor that we could break my water to assure this one didn't become another dreaded false start. After being admitted to a room, an IV was started with my antibiotics and the resident came in to break my water....I laughed. Jonathan and I promptly told them I wouldn't make it 4 hours for the medication to finish, so they would have to wait. Labor to this point was relatively painless, so Jonathan, Mom, and I just visited while we waited it out. We conceded to have my water broken around 7pm, then the real labor began. It was a quiet process from what I can remember. I had some music playing that helped keep me focused, closing my eyes helped, and I sat up the whole time (surprised because I was most comfortable on my side with the other 2). It was pretty amazing having my mom with me this time. Priceless, really. I can't imagine a more precious moment to share with her than the birth of my child. The most vivid memory that I have of this labor is that I actually don't remember much at all!! It was quick, thankfully, and I think I retreated internally so much from the pain that I had to ask a lot of questions after it was over to get a clearer picture of the night. One minute I was breathing through the pain, and the next Doctor M was telling me I was ready to have the baby. Since I was already in a sitting position she encouraged me to use a squat bar. I think at this point that I must have been sitting on his head (haha) because as soon as I pulled up on it, I pushed twice and Jon Hudson arrived at 9:12 pm. Those two pushes were the most out of control moments of the whole night. I wasn't expecting it all to happen
that fast! Immediately I held him on my chest. He was beautiful. Finally, relief. Partly relief that he was here and healthy; partly relief that pregnancy was over... this third time had been exceptionally tough on my body. However, basking in this sweet relief didn't mean that it was time to relax. I sent Jonathan to take Hudson to get cleaned up with the nurse and noticed from afar that things weren't going perfectly. As a respiratory therapist, I recognized that they were treating him for minor respiratory problems. After his respiratory efforts got a little assistance from the therapist in our room the baby nurse gave him to me for him to "transition" instead of just sending him off to the nursery for observation. So glad she did! Research shows that some babies who struggle at first seem to resolve their difficulties with skin to skin contact with mom. He nudged his way around my chest and, without any help from me, he began to nurse. I've read about these babies, even seen video during birth class, but I wasn't a true believer until now. There he was, nature taking control... the way God designed us to be... bonding, surviving....it was remarkable. The breathing problems disappeared immediately. I was truly in awe. Even now, I can turn down the volume of life and go back to that moment and all I can see is this beautiful picture of mother and baby, loving, breathing, living. God has been good to me. He has blessed me beyond belief. His creation of life in relationship with Him leaves me speechless and abundantly thankful.
