Simon Robert Davis . 8.25.04 . 21 days past due
Our life’s journey begins in the womb. It is a time that should be respected and honored for its life impact. We each undergo this at least once, more if we’re parents through our children. We honor our children by accepting their journey through all its joys and challenges. By honoring their journey we honor ours.
My husband Jon is a chiropractor. I teach Bradley® childbirth classes and study midwifery. Together we have three wonderful sons! With all we know of the body and birth, we are humbled with each of our sons’ birth journeys. We recognize that there is something greater than ourselves and we lean on God as He asked in Proverbs 3:5.
This was my great lesson with our second child. When our first was only ten months old I found myself pregnant with child number two. We were so excited! I was actually eager to experience labor and apply my instructor training. We were also excited to experience our first homebirth.
Soon we were sharing our news with all we encountered! We found the midwife in our area and visited with her about homebirth and her role with us. As I taught weekly Bradley® classes, the words I shared with my students took on a stronger meaning. Our journey with Simon had begun!
The pregnancy progressed like all pregnancies do. Nap time was my favorite; our oldest and I took lazy naps and cuddled, savoring our last months of just being two. I think Stephen, though very young, had a sense of change. He may not have been able to tell me what was happening but I think a part of him knew it was something big.
After 40 weeks, my due date finally arrived…and then it passed, as due dates often do. Knowing that a due date is only an estimate and that only five percent of women actually birth then meant nothing to me. I was like all pregnant moms, uncomfortable and ready for labor. Little did I know I had three more weeks to go.
I cannot express the wait of the following weeks. Moms who have waited for labor to naturally begin may understand, yet few moms are allowed to wait as long as I was blessed to. Yes, I do mean blessed, though I didn’t realize it at the time. Wisdom often comes after the fact! Jon, Simon and I were to wait until hours shy of 43 weeks. Gasp! There are so many fears and misunderstandings about waiting this long, but it wasn’t my journey, it was Simon’s and I wasn’t the one in charge, God was. So we waited.
It wasn’t an easy wait. I was a lot more uncomfortable this time. I was tired. I thought I would never get to meet our child. The birthing pool was inflated then deflated several times as we waited. And my husband was bombarded with, “you have the baby yet?” literally every five minutes! We were ready…Simon was not.
Only about three percent of babies go past 42 weeks. Few are allowed to wait 42 weeks before either the attending or the mom demands an induction. Studies done in 1982, 1989 and 1996 have shown “no significant increase in neonatal mortality rates after 42 weeks and only a slight increase after 43 weeks.” The 1996 study even showed “no increase in complications compared to the births of babies born on-time, between 38 and 42 weeks.” (Wagner, 94-95)
So we waited. We had many prenatal visits and found the baby and fluid fine. I will admit that I tried nearly every “natural” way to induce labor, but Simon said, “Not yet.” Even the castor oil at the very end of 42 weeks had no effect. It was simply not time, though my cervix was dilated four centimeters and effacing rapidly. When things started it would be fast!
The day before 43 weeks, things finally began. I was in denial; I wasn’t capable of going into labor, this must be something else! After four hours of contractions increasing in intensity and duration, I was forced to conclude that it was time! By five o’clock everyone we needed had arrived.
The labor itself was really simple. I spent some time laboring on our sofa watching a movie and playing computer games, stopping only for contractions. When that got to be too much, I moved to bed and laid there, eyes closed during contractions and visiting quietly between. Finally I was ready for the pool. Ah, sweet relief. Once in the pool I found a new sense of comfort. My energy was renewed. It’s like getting an extra life in a video game!
We labored in the pool, joking and having “fun.” Transition hit about 30-45 minutes before Simon was born. I remember thinking “this is so intense!” Naturally I didn’t recognize transition at the time! Jon was sitting in front of me ready to catch, midwife over his shoulder to guide and keep an eye on things. At 8:04pm Simon reached a full crown. The midwife told me to feel his head but I couldn’t, I felt unable to let go of Jon’s hands. Mind you, his hands were ready to “catch,” mine were behind me, supporting myself. Wow, amazing how much support my husband offered me simply through his presence!
Almost three minutes after crowning, Simon’s head came out, with only a moment’s pause when the rest of him shot out into daddy’s hands. Almost immediately he was in my stunned arms. Here was the child I was convinced I would never meet. His birth journey wasted no time. He lives his life the way he approached his birth; difficult to start, but when he does, get out of his way, he acts fast!
He was born covered in meconium; though it wasn’t fresh, as if he passed it many days earlier. I often wonder about the castor oil I took a week prior. Experts say it doesn’t affect the baby, yet I wonder. And in spite of the meconium, he was alert and vigorous. At an even 9 pounds 21 inches, he was perfect! The due date was concluded as accurate.
What an amazing journey that I am pleased we honored and traveled together. I look forward to the days ahead when I will be witness to the journey of other babies and their families.
Wagner, Marsden. Born in the USA. University of California, 2006.
My husband Jon is a chiropractor. I teach Bradley® childbirth classes and study midwifery. Together we have three wonderful sons! With all we know of the body and birth, we are humbled with each of our sons’ birth journeys. We recognize that there is something greater than ourselves and we lean on God as He asked in Proverbs 3:5.
This was my great lesson with our second child. When our first was only ten months old I found myself pregnant with child number two. We were so excited! I was actually eager to experience labor and apply my instructor training. We were also excited to experience our first homebirth.
Soon we were sharing our news with all we encountered! We found the midwife in our area and visited with her about homebirth and her role with us. As I taught weekly Bradley® classes, the words I shared with my students took on a stronger meaning. Our journey with Simon had begun!
The pregnancy progressed like all pregnancies do. Nap time was my favorite; our oldest and I took lazy naps and cuddled, savoring our last months of just being two. I think Stephen, though very young, had a sense of change. He may not have been able to tell me what was happening but I think a part of him knew it was something big.
After 40 weeks, my due date finally arrived…and then it passed, as due dates often do. Knowing that a due date is only an estimate and that only five percent of women actually birth then meant nothing to me. I was like all pregnant moms, uncomfortable and ready for labor. Little did I know I had three more weeks to go.
I cannot express the wait of the following weeks. Moms who have waited for labor to naturally begin may understand, yet few moms are allowed to wait as long as I was blessed to. Yes, I do mean blessed, though I didn’t realize it at the time. Wisdom often comes after the fact! Jon, Simon and I were to wait until hours shy of 43 weeks. Gasp! There are so many fears and misunderstandings about waiting this long, but it wasn’t my journey, it was Simon’s and I wasn’t the one in charge, God was. So we waited.
It wasn’t an easy wait. I was a lot more uncomfortable this time. I was tired. I thought I would never get to meet our child. The birthing pool was inflated then deflated several times as we waited. And my husband was bombarded with, “you have the baby yet?” literally every five minutes! We were ready…Simon was not.
Only about three percent of babies go past 42 weeks. Few are allowed to wait 42 weeks before either the attending or the mom demands an induction. Studies done in 1982, 1989 and 1996 have shown “no significant increase in neonatal mortality rates after 42 weeks and only a slight increase after 43 weeks.” The 1996 study even showed “no increase in complications compared to the births of babies born on-time, between 38 and 42 weeks.” (Wagner, 94-95)
So we waited. We had many prenatal visits and found the baby and fluid fine. I will admit that I tried nearly every “natural” way to induce labor, but Simon said, “Not yet.” Even the castor oil at the very end of 42 weeks had no effect. It was simply not time, though my cervix was dilated four centimeters and effacing rapidly. When things started it would be fast!
The day before 43 weeks, things finally began. I was in denial; I wasn’t capable of going into labor, this must be something else! After four hours of contractions increasing in intensity and duration, I was forced to conclude that it was time! By five o’clock everyone we needed had arrived.
The labor itself was really simple. I spent some time laboring on our sofa watching a movie and playing computer games, stopping only for contractions. When that got to be too much, I moved to bed and laid there, eyes closed during contractions and visiting quietly between. Finally I was ready for the pool. Ah, sweet relief. Once in the pool I found a new sense of comfort. My energy was renewed. It’s like getting an extra life in a video game!
We labored in the pool, joking and having “fun.” Transition hit about 30-45 minutes before Simon was born. I remember thinking “this is so intense!” Naturally I didn’t recognize transition at the time! Jon was sitting in front of me ready to catch, midwife over his shoulder to guide and keep an eye on things. At 8:04pm Simon reached a full crown. The midwife told me to feel his head but I couldn’t, I felt unable to let go of Jon’s hands. Mind you, his hands were ready to “catch,” mine were behind me, supporting myself. Wow, amazing how much support my husband offered me simply through his presence!
Almost three minutes after crowning, Simon’s head came out, with only a moment’s pause when the rest of him shot out into daddy’s hands. Almost immediately he was in my stunned arms. Here was the child I was convinced I would never meet. His birth journey wasted no time. He lives his life the way he approached his birth; difficult to start, but when he does, get out of his way, he acts fast!
He was born covered in meconium; though it wasn’t fresh, as if he passed it many days earlier. I often wonder about the castor oil I took a week prior. Experts say it doesn’t affect the baby, yet I wonder. And in spite of the meconium, he was alert and vigorous. At an even 9 pounds 21 inches, he was perfect! The due date was concluded as accurate.
What an amazing journey that I am pleased we honored and traveled together. I look forward to the days ahead when I will be witness to the journey of other babies and their families.
Wagner, Marsden. Born in the USA. University of California, 2006.
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9 1/2 year later!
I am thankful for my 2nd child who has taught me that life doesn't have to be serious, it can be fun, adventurous, silly; but he also taught me to pick something to be passionate about and then go after that hard core! There's no room to to go after your passions half-heartedly! |
Jennifer Davis . Labor For Love Birth Services . [email protected] . 320-493-5110
