Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
You can probably already see where this blog is going…
When Reggie and I got engaged, we discussed our “ideals” for marriage and child-bearing. We planned to be married a year before conceiving, and be relatively established within the ministry we served. You know, “have our ducks lined up in a row”. Within 2 1/2 months of our wedding, we sensed God was redirecting our steps- moving us away from Orlando, and to Franklin, away from Impact, and towards…??? That should have been my first clue that the LORD’s purpose would prevail in our lives, and so it has.
Prior to finding out we were expecting Enoch, I determined that I wanted to give birth naturally (without the aid of pain relieving drugs or other medically invasive procedures). My reasoning wasn’t really that deep. I’d heard “horror” stories of epidurals that didn’t take, or wore off, leaving the mother with a “natural” experience after all. And, since I’m not all that excited about needles, having a catheter placed in my spine was even less appealing.
And then we conceived. So, I began to research, and plan for natural childbirth. I consulted friends who did it. Read books. And, Reggie and I completed a 12 week class on husband coached childbirth (Bradley method). By October 31st, our classes were completed, nursery finished, baby clothes washed and hospital bag packed. We had a plan. A birth plan. Now all we had to do was wait for the baby’s arrival.
And wait we did. Day after day, week after week – nothing. Countless phone calls “checking in”- nothing. “Baby here yet?” texts. Still nothing. Bulging eyes inquisitively asking “When are you due?” – and still nothing. November 12, the official due date, came…and went. Nothing.
Finally on November 18, my water broke at 3:30am. It was on! A trip to the midwives’ office would lead us to the hospital, which would inevitably result in the birth of our child by the end of the day.
Or not.
You see, here is the best case scenario. Contractions. Hard labor. Dilation. Thinning. Water breaks. Baby.
Worse case scenario is water breaks first, with the mother needing antibiotics, and no dilation or thinning (i.e. no progress). Want to guess which scenario my body selected???
Hour after hour passed. One 12-hour midwife and nursing shift passed after another. And still, nothing. And with each passing shift came more frustration, exhaustion, despair, and prayers.
This blog only touches the surface of all that occurred. From 3:30am on Thursday, November 18 until Enoch Joel arrived at 6:34am on Saturday, November 20, 2010 we have seen how God’s hand was all over this time.
We are convinced that each midwife and nurse was handpicked by Him to provide what we needed during our time. From the 1st one who laid out a realistic picture of what we faced, to the 4th and last one, who delivered Enoch and determined that I would “push this baby out”, fought the surgeons who were “hovering”, waiting to perform a Cesearan section.
Then, there was the nurse who after observing Reggie praying over me, quietly offered to pray for us. She prayed verses that I had prayed over Enoch for months, gently reminding me that in spite of needing intervention (being induced, epidural, etc.) God has our situation under control.
Throughout the entire process, his heartbeat remained strong, and I stayed fever free. God.
Each shift commented on how well Reggie and I handled the situation and how well we worked together, along with my sister. God.
When a midwife commented on how “amazing” we were, I informed her that it was God, and the prayers of His people.
And I remembered. I remembered all of the prayers leading up to this point, all of the blogs, the lessons, the tears. I remembered our desire for a healthy baby and God’s glory. I remembered the prayer to be a witness and testimony of God faithfulness. And, as I sit here with Enoch sleeping on my chest, I smile.
Yes, many were the plans of our hearts, but God’s purpose prevailed.
Grateful,
Kim
