For a mother, the birth of her baby is so much more than a moment in history. Yes, the moment was December 11, 2014 at 2:22 p.m. But the birth is an emotional turn, a philosophical slant, an identity change, a risk, a reassurance, a romance. And all of that is birthed over many moments.
One such moment was the night before my induction. I was rocking both of my babies, the one in my arms (awkwardly held like a football alongside my basketball of a belly) and the one in utero. I was humming the same lullabies we had for fifteen months: the Doxology and the Benediction. But it was only a few lines into the song and the sound could no longer rise up from my throat because the tears were falling down my cheeks.
The baby in my arms noticed. Normally, the moment I stop humming, he picks up where I leave off, humming for us, telling me to hum on. But that night, he didn’t. He was very still, perceiving. We held each other’s gaze in the silence.
And I think that was the moment that the idea was finally born in my head that I was a mom of two beautiful children.
One such moment was the night before my induction. I was rocking both of my babies, the one in my arms (awkwardly held like a football alongside my basketball of a belly) and the one in utero. I was humming the same lullabies we had for fifteen months: the Doxology and the Benediction. But it was only a few lines into the song and the sound could no longer rise up from my throat because the tears were falling down my cheeks.
The baby in my arms noticed. Normally, the moment I stop humming, he picks up where I leave off, humming for us, telling me to hum on. But that night, he didn’t. He was very still, perceiving. We held each other’s gaze in the silence.
And I think that was the moment that the idea was finally born in my head that I was a mom of two beautiful children.
The birth itself was calm and quick. I arrived at the hospital at about 7:30 a.m. for induction and it was about two hours later that the staff began the pitocin. The contractions I'd been having for over a week gained intensity and by noon my water broke. The scent of the amniotic fluid immediately brought back memories of how Clay smelled when he was first born. It was an odd and pretty gross motivation, but the scent was exhilarating. My baby girl was almost in my arms. I would see her face the first time. I was about to tell her that I was her mommy. Get.this.baby.born.
Eric was a great labor coach, waiting for my contractions to ebb before expecting me to take my text turn in Quiddler. My Mom arrived in time to help with the epidural procedure and comfortable from the epidural, I labored down and waited for the doctor to arrive. No pushing necessary. Happy birthday, baby!
She was born into a little nest of love - a circle comprised of the OB that has taken care of my babies and me, Grammie, Daddy, and Mommy. I realized after the OB stepped back that there were tons of other people in the room but I had no idea. That four foot in diameter circle with my baby in the center had my entire attention.
Alethea Ruth was alert and content; she nursed well right away and it was a long time before anything else happened. We just snuggled and I remember I felt intensely, intensely happy. That was my baby girl I was holding and nothing else mattered.
She promptly found her hands. I think she was practicing that skill inside.
Eric was a great labor coach, waiting for my contractions to ebb before expecting me to take my text turn in Quiddler. My Mom arrived in time to help with the epidural procedure and comfortable from the epidural, I labored down and waited for the doctor to arrive. No pushing necessary. Happy birthday, baby!
She was born into a little nest of love - a circle comprised of the OB that has taken care of my babies and me, Grammie, Daddy, and Mommy. I realized after the OB stepped back that there were tons of other people in the room but I had no idea. That four foot in diameter circle with my baby in the center had my entire attention.
Alethea Ruth was alert and content; she nursed well right away and it was a long time before anything else happened. We just snuggled and I remember I felt intensely, intensely happy. That was my baby girl I was holding and nothing else mattered.
She promptly found her hands. I think she was practicing that skill inside.
We brought Alethea home at 6 p.m. on Dec. 12 and Clay got to meet his little sister for the first time. While Mommy was at the hospital he had been well cared for by Grammie, Daddy, and very kind friends. As a new big brother, he was sweet, cautious, interested. And then he realized that the baby made noise. In an instant, both of my babies were crying.
This is the moment our family of four was born.