Elisa’s story…

The Home Birth of Noah John Hesed

“A woman when she is in labor has sorrow because her hour has come, but as soon as she has given birth to the child she no longer remembers the anguish for the joy that a human being has been born into the world.”
John 16:21

We women have the amazing opportunity to nurture a little one from conception, and then birth him or her into the world.  For me personally, this process has included suffering.  However, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  In spring of 2010 I gave birth to my second baby, Noah John Hesed.  It was an intense 12 hours of difficult work since he was posterior, just like my first child.  I found myself fighting discouragement during the process.  “Why is this happening again?” I would moan inwardly.  “I worked so hard to avoid a posterior labor!”
    During many contractions I just wanted to give up.  But how does a woman in labor do that?  The baby was coming whether I liked it or not.  And since I was doing a home birth my midwife wouldn’t have been able to accommodate any requests for pain medicine or optional hospital interventions.   There weren’t any shortcuts available.
    I clung wildly to the words from the Bible.  “For God alone I patiently wait; he is the one who delivers me.   He alone is my protector and deliverer.  He is my refuge; I will not be upended.”
    As the labor progressed I retreated inside myself and sought God.   I would cry out his name during my painful contraction peaks.  Then, like the smell of fresh rain I would become aware of someone divine standing in front of me.  As the contraction waned He would be gone. I wept with gratitude.  I wasn’t alone and I was loved. There was someone who understood my suffering and shared in it.

As I entered transition, again I became discouraged.  “Please help me God,” I begged desperately.  The pain seemed unbearable and I felt so vulnerable.  Maureen finally said, “Don’t you see, He IS helping you!”  I didn’t like to hear this because I wasn’t feeling it, but I now understood that my prayer had to change.  “Thank you God for helping me” I almost shouted back.  I began to feel my confidence return. I received a priceless reward when my little Noah was slid into my arms up from the water of the birthing pool after 12 hours of intense labor. 

Giving birth to my first child was a rite of passage.  Birthing my second was more than just an exclamation point.  I had never before encountered the presence of God like I did at Noah’s birth. Where I thought I was alone in my place of suffering …I found Him.

I love how birth has changed me and made me into a more mature and confident woman, and a better mother.

Prologue…It was wonderful to have Maureen at my birth.  I appreciated so much her depth of knowledge and character.  I feel that she is wise and takes her responsibility with birth seriously, but also is a humble person.  I really benefited from her help and encouragement during my difficult pregnancy.  She went above and beyond the call of duty to help me grow a healthy baby and feel better too!  I love my midwife!

 

 

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