We (Simon and I) made a decision to have a home birth.
I was still in Nepal when I began deeply considering the option of having Jyoti at home instead of a hospital; but, I knew that I would not be able to have a home birth if I was in Nepal. So when the decision was made to have Jyoti in the USA instead of Nepal, I was hooked on the idea. Some scoffed at the idea telling me how "unsafe" my decision would be for me and Jyoti. I prayed hard about the choice and as I prayed we researched and learned more about childbirth. My midwife taught me that childbirth is unlike any other type of pain. It is feeling pain but, with a purpose. She told me, "Your body will be hurting, but it is hurting because it is getting ready for baby to come. It isn't anything like a broken bone or a stomach ache from too much ice cream. That pain is a result of something bad happening."
I was so moved by that statement. I prayed for her birth to be an experience that will help me grow closer to my Savior. Thus, my decision was made. I was going to have her at home with no pain medication at all.
This pain had a purpose.
On Delivery Day
I started having contractions on Sunday as I drove home from church. I began to feel the excitement well up inside of me. Could this be the day? I remember thinking. The contractions only happened every 20 or so minutes that I knew I had some time. But I was so filled with joy, I knew I would be meeting my baby soon. By Monday morning at 3am, my contractions started coming every 6 to 7 minutes and lasting for 60 to 90 seconds. I was concerned, so I called my midwife. She said to wait until they are 5 minutes apart. I waited. They still kept coming every 6 to 7 minutes all the way until Tuesday morning. I kept praying myself through them. Every contraction, I would quote scripture and pray for Jyoti to be a light in this world as she grows up. I called my midwife on Tuesday morning at around 9am. I told her that I was feeling very drowsy because the contractions kept me awake all night. She asked if I could come into her office. I told her that I didn't think it was safe for me to drive and would prefer her to come see me instead. She arrived around 10am and checked my cervix. I was already 7cm dilated. Moments later the contractions began coming 4 to 5 minutes apart and lasting at least 90 seconds with more intense pain. I kept going with quoting scripture and praying through them but it was getting increasingly more difficult.
Simon had to help me get through each one.
I started to feel exhausted and so I sat in the water bath that would be where I would deliver Jyoti. The contractions suddenly stopped. Was God giving me a break or was there something wrong? After an hour or so of mild inconsistent contractions, my midwife encouraged me to get out of the water so she can check what is going on. I was 9cm dilated. My body was still working, only at a slower pace. God cared for my weakened and exhausted body and gave me a nice break!
After that, though, I will be honest, I was no longer able to pray through my contractions. I would squeal a bit and say,
All the while, Simon or my midwife would be pushing hard on my back because Jyoti was in a strange position that put a lot of pressure on my back. There were a few that made me want to give up. They were coming even more frequently and lasting even longer and the pain was so intense that I felt like I was outside of my body. I couldn't think about anything but making it through. I would try to breathe slower and say the truth about how I will make it through this, but there were moments that I lost grip on reality.
All the while, my body was doing exactly what it needed to do to bring our baby into the world. Yes, I felt pain. I will never deny that. But it was completely out of my control. It was out of Simon's control. It was even out of my midwife's control. This one was God. He designed my body, a woman's body, to be able to do this.
And my body did do it. We did have some complications, though. She had her hand on her face that made her trip down the birth canal run into a halt. This required a bit of assistance from my midwife. No medical interventions.
The other complication came from having an umbilical cord that was too short. It made the placenta come off the lining of the uterus too early. Thus, making me have an enormous loss of blood. Two IVs (for hydration) and some iron supplements later, I am completely fine.
And Simon and I are blessed with our beautiful daughter that we fall more in love with every single day. Jyoti Grace KC.
Photo Credit goes to Joy Crampton: San Antonio Birth Photography
"I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!"
All the while, Simon or my midwife would be pushing hard on my back because Jyoti was in a strange position that put a lot of pressure on my back. There were a few that made me want to give up. They were coming even more frequently and lasting even longer and the pain was so intense that I felt like I was outside of my body. I couldn't think about anything but making it through. I would try to breathe slower and say the truth about how I will make it through this, but there were moments that I lost grip on reality.
All the while, my body was doing exactly what it needed to do to bring our baby into the world. Yes, I felt pain. I will never deny that. But it was completely out of my control. It was out of Simon's control. It was even out of my midwife's control. This one was God. He designed my body, a woman's body, to be able to do this.
And my body did do it. We did have some complications, though. She had her hand on her face that made her trip down the birth canal run into a halt. This required a bit of assistance from my midwife. No medical interventions.
The other complication came from having an umbilical cord that was too short. It made the placenta come off the lining of the uterus too early. Thus, making me have an enormous loss of blood. Two IVs (for hydration) and some iron supplements later, I am completely fine.
And Simon and I are blessed with our beautiful daughter that we fall more in love with every single day. Jyoti Grace KC.
Photo Credit goes to Joy Crampton: San Antonio Birth Photography
