Last week at this time I was in the hospital. I went in at about 5pm, having very early labor pains. My doctor was quite insistent about me getting to the hospital sooner rather than later so I wasn’t very far along when I got there.
The I.V. was placed, I was hooked to monitors and then we waited. After a while, Rich and I walked the halls with the I.V. pole. I was the only woman giving birth that night (and I remained the only woman there the whole time). So I had the undivided attention of the nurses.
After a while, as we walked and walked, the labor got more painful, and I did decide to have an epidural.
The anesthesiologist came with the medicine, and before I knew it, I was all tucked in bed at 8:30pm, relieved that the epidural was in place and that I could rest. My doctor came in at that moment to see me, said I was at 5cms and broke my water. Then she and the nurse cheerfully left and Rich cheerfully settled in the corner with a book. I closed my eyes to rest…….all was quiet and calm.
Oh my goodness, the next contraction was terrible! Only about 10 minutes had gone by and I frantically called the nurse with the handy little button on my bed. She came in and patiently told me that “blah, blah, blah, the doctor said it would be impossible for you to be ready to push already, blah, blah” (something was said about the epidural, can’t remember what). Out she went again, on her merry way.
The next contraction came and I felt like I was being torn asunder! I frantically paged the nurse again as Rich got up and quickly came to my side. The nurse and doctor came together, running, and sure enough…..in just 20 minutes it was time to deliver a baby……
And what a painful experience it was!
A couple things make me laugh now, when I think about them.
The first was The Washcloth. My thoughtful doctor asked for a cool washcloth to be placed on my forehead. I kid you not…..I remember it being placed on my head and then I remember no more. I wonder if I threw it? I asked Rich but he doesn’t remember either.
The other was The White Socks. As I was in the clutches of merciless pain, my thoughtful doctor and nurse both kept asking me if I wanted my nice white socks removed…….I couldn’t answer at first, but I finally yelled
“I don’t care about the socks!”
Truthfully, the whole delivery did not take THAT long. He was born at 9:20…..but it was the longest and most painful delivery of all of my children. My sixth little wonder came down with his head a tad crooked, giving me the agonizing experience I never wanted. I was in so much pain that I cried for help and accepted the offer to have him suctioned out. So, my dear baby boy was born with not only a cone shaped head but also a bruise in the shape of a circle.
Thankfully I can report that his head is perfectly round now, and the bruise is gone.
Another thing makes me laugh. When it was all over and I was shivering uncontrollably under heavy blankets my doctor came to my side and said,
“Oh Shanda! I’m SO SORRY the epidural didn’t work for you!”
What can a woman say to that? Honestly? I just had to laugh.
They left Seth right on me and I got to keep him and hold him for a little while after he was born, as long as I wanted. I felt no great emotion at his birth, just “um um um” (yes, that’s exactly how I felt)……..sort of shocked, I guess. Like, “What in the world just happened here?” As I perked up I got more and more happy. Of course I counted his hands, feet, fingers, toes, and I did notice that he was crying sort of lamb-like…..”whimper whimper whimper” and then “bAAAAAAAA!” So cute.
Then Rich held him. Rich was some what traumatized by the birth, and I think even a little scared because he knew that all my other deliveries were almost effortless…..so, he felt that something wasn’t quite right this time, and was very relieved to have it all over and done with.
After Rich held him, the nurse weighed him and gave Seth his first bath right there in the room, with him in the baby bed under the warmer. Rich took pictures as I shivered in the bed watching.
Oh my goodness! I’ll never forget the sight! His little feet waving at me, up and down! I couldn’t see anything but the cutest dearest little feet! That was when I asked Rich for the camera and I took my very first photo of my new baby boy Seth.
Come on now, does this not make you smile?
And now, I just want to thank you again….so very very much….for praying for us.
Thank you also, for praying for me specifically yesterday, regarding my anxious emotions. I tell you the truth, I FELT THOSE PRAYERS all day yesterday, and smiled and trusted God and thought to myself every time I read through my comments and received the Scriptures and encouragement from you all — that surely God would answer the prayers of so many lovely people. THANK YOU.
Today, I admit, was a rough day for me. I didn’t get much sleep last night, but I did sleep. The #1 sign for me, with the PPD, was sleeplessness. With depression I CAN NOT SLEEP ONE WINK. So, it is a relief for me if I fall asleep for even 3 hours, which was the longest solid stretch I got last night.
Rich went to work for half the day today and then he was home working for the rest of the day.
He is now warming up one of the many frozen meals that our dear church family have provided for us.
He is also trying to keep Seth awake for a little while. He has been so sleepy all afternoon.
Jacob, Ethan, and Caleb are in NY with their Grandparents. Grace and David remain with us, and it’s been nice to focus on just three children, rather than SIX. SIX!!!!!!!!
I’m getting used to that number now…….. well, I’m trying anyway. I think about six children and I laugh! Can I tell you something? In my Senior year of H.S. it was predicted in the year book that Rich and I would eventually get married, live in the South, in a house with a white picket fence…and that we would have six children. We don’t live in the South, we don’t have the white picket fence, but we have the best prediction of all……half a dozen offspring!
So little Seth is a week old today. I thank God for bringing us safely through the first seven days in such a tender and gentle way. There have been ups and downs, but Seth is pure pleasure to take care of, and I am enjoying his newborn sweetness so much.
Here are some photos of him that I took this morning:
“He truly is a miracle from God. Only God could form those fi
ngers, and the perfect little nose, and that beating heart.” ~from a letter that I received from a dear friend today, which made me cry as I read it. . . . . .
Love, Shan
Good to be Home 
He is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing your story with us… I love the footy picture. so sweet.
He is so beautiful 🙂 Your friend is right – only GOD could make something so wonderful! How funny (in a cute way!!) that back in H.S. people guessed you two would have six children, and they were right! I don’t think it is too often that predictions made in High School come true.
(oh, and I am so very thankful to our Lord to hear that you made it through yesterday, even though it was hard, that you slept well, and that you are feeling better today. You continue to be in my prayers!)
What is it about baby feet that always entrances us? It’s like you become a mom and from that moment on baby feet take on this huge importance to us. It’s universal, I think. So glad you are doing well. I hope you can get some rest. Hugs~~
I’m so glad that you and Seth are doing so well — and that he’s a pleasure to take care of. Take care, and get as much sleep as your little one will allow!
Although I have been following along, I haven’t congratulated your family yet. Congratulations on this newest addition to your most beautiful family. God knew what he was doing when he gave them all to you. He is a blessing to you as you are to him…and all your children. I can’t wait to see him grow (and the others too)!
Thanks for sharing your story…every delivery is so different isn’t it? I am sure you are glad it is over and look already one week!!?! I wish I could see the little guy in person and give his mommy a hug….so as you read this…think of one for you from me! 🙂
Such a darling! I’m rejoicing with you 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your labor/delivery story! I was hoping that you would at some point. I just love to read about each unique entrance into this world! Seth is so sweet, and yes, the waving footsie did make me smile. I always laugh now when I read about people counting their baby’s fingers and toes. When we counted Jacob’s fingers after his birth, we discovered that he had an extra thumb. It is called polydactly, and it is actully not that uncommon. Anyhoo, it was a bit surprising, and we may opt to have it surgically removed at some point, but it didn’t (and doesn’t) detract from his special-ness or our deep love for him. Just one more little bit to love. My brother said that if Jake grows up to be a preacher, he will be able to hold up his hands and say, “Now for my 11th point”. LOL
I was given an epidural with both my girls but I really didn’t think it helped that much… (I was thankful for quick labors) What a thing for the doctor to say 🙂 Seth is just precious.
He just has the wisest eyes! He is simply divine!
He is simply breath taking. What a beautiful, beautiful baby. And there is just something so lovely about baby feet. I love them. Praying you continue to feel better. Enjoy that sweet baby.
I think I’m already in love with your 6th child. Thse pictures just brought tears to my eyes. How good the Lord is give you the desire to record your thoughts on line, to share the joy and wondersous hope of Seth with so many others near and far. You bring HIS Love to a hurting world with your generousity
beautiful baby boy! 🙂 love love those toes and feet – thanks too for sharing your birth story – Morgan, came head facing up – looking up wide eyed at us – felt a little like your told here that night for me! So glad you and baby made it through fine ~ God is good.praying for you~lys
awwwwwwwww SOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!
I’m so glad you were able to sleep at least a little last night, and that you could feel the prayers of your Xanga friends. God bless you with sleep tonight, and with a warm blanket of PEACE and some nice fizzy JOY! God bless you and all you love tonight, far-away friend.
GAH to the nurses who said you couldn’t be ready to deliver! This is your 5th. They should be happy you made it to the hospital at all! Cling to the funny things…washclothes and socks…the laundry follows us whereever we go, doesn’t it!
I wonder if a mom ever tires of hearing birth stories? Thanks for sharing yours, and what a bummer that the epidural didn’t work! Isn’t that just the greatest feeling when they’re ALL out…..=) He’s precious, wish I could snuggle him a bit……=)
So good to hear how you are doing and see precious Seth. Funny, I thought he had the same look as my Daniel when he was born, it was the cone head. LOL With Daniel I had to push for 1 1/2 hours and he came out cone headed too. Your delivery was more like David’s. I went form 5-10 cm in 25 min and felt unglued, then I had to push. It created a panic at the hospital as they tore my bed apart to make it into a birthing chair, and yanked a Doctor into the room until mine came careening in at the last minute. It is funny looking back. You made me laugh…”I don’t care about the socks!” No doubt. That little foot just cracks me up…we will have to see if Seth turns out to be expressive with those feet. He is sweet, sweet, sweet.((HUGS)) Jenny
I loved this entry, Shanda…thanks for letting us peek into your birth story like that. I had to grin at the washcloth and socks. I had a similar experience, but I yelled at Matt, telling him not to touch me LOL and they asked me the same thing about my socks, too. I believe I gave a similar reply. Listen, I wasn’t there last Sunday, so I didn’t get to send a frozen meal to you, but I’d like to bring you one at some point, ok? Just let me know when you’re feeling up to it, because I’d love to see you and the little pumpkin. I’m so glad you’re feeling a little better today, too. Hope you have a lovely, restful night’s sleep. I had PPD too, so if you ever want to chat, I’m here. Love you!
He does have just the dearest little feet, Shanda ~ what sweetness ~
your honesty is refreashing and beneficial to us all. thanks for letting us in on your journey. continual prayers for you and yours….
So precious….just remember the Lords mercies are new every morning!!! Take everyday one day at a time,and take no thought for tomorrow. You will make it through this. Those times you feel weak the Lord is carrying you. Praying for you sweet sister.
Cute little baby feet!
Isn’t it funny what we remember from child birth?
Congrats on your “half dozen!”
Loves!
I was just reading some old pages in my journal about a phone conversation we had and that when I hung up I could not stop smiling because of how often you laugh and make me laugh. I really believe that is your very best quality and why you can have six kids and raise them well, you enjoy it!!!
I know you already know this (after five other times) but the sleepless nights will pass, all your strenth and laughter will come back, look at how many people love you!
I’m glad you had Rich come home this afternoon to be with you. That picture of Grace looking at Seth is so cute. I hope you continue to have good days ahead of you & I continue to pray for you.
Love the birth story!! Isn’t it funny afterwards to think about what you really said. (oh, it is NOT funny in the least when you are going through it). Can’t believe that a week has passed. I have followed you through this pregnancy and feel like I “know” you. The time always goes so quickly when it is someone else’s pregnancy:).
You had 6?
I couldnt go through child bith again… I had contractions for a whole week. I stayed at 3 cm for 3 days. You must of gone to a small hospital. The day i had my son 8 other babies were born around the same time.
Your son is beautiful 🙂 I love baby feet.
He is such a sweetie! I’m amazed at how time goes by … my baby is almost 2. Enjoy these special new days with your little man. He looks so deep in thought – I wonder what babies think about.
I laughed about your washcloth and socks and the silly doctor with his comment. I laughed about your hubby being traumatized:):) What wonderful stories and memories.
If I lived closer I too would bring you a meal right away and a gift for little seth! But for now all i can do is give you a virtual hug! Have an awesome day tomorrow………..
You are a truly dedicated photographer to call for your camera soon after giving birth! Love that little waving foot! I hope my daughter will let me bring my camera into the delivery room. Whew! Labor is……………laborious! But, what we GET makes it worth it, huh? What a little miracle! I do pray you will rest in God’s peace. I pray that you will NOT be fighting through clouds of weariness and depression! I am praying that everything in your body will come into a proper balance and will function the way God intended it to. God has you in the palm of His hand. Blessings!
I enjoyed hearing your story about Seth coming into the world, Shan! Your little Seth is so cute and I pray for you each day. Love you, Elisha
Oh my I do love you and your whole….family! Naomi and I were loving Seth’s picture she was giggling with delight. ~a
Oh so cute, Shanda! I love his little feet, too! I can’t believe how much he looks like your other boys, and yet as your friend in the letter stated….such a miracle, each finger, each toe, uniquely belonging to Seth by the hand of our loving, Heavenly Father….the GREATEST gift giver ever! :o) What a perfect little Valentines bundle. :o) Congratulations!! (I’m happy that pain is over!)
Darling – just darling!
He is so amazingly cute. . .I love looking at your pictures of him! I had two all-natural deliveries and two epidural ones. . .the natural ones felt like endless periods of agony and torture. . .never felt pain like that in my LIFE. . .and I was prepared for them with Lamaze classes and all. . .the pain is still PAIN though. And the epidural ones were soooo benign, easy-going and restful! But I must admit, I felt tons better after the natural ones than the epidural ones. They both have their drawbacks I suppose, but when you are expecting an epidural and then it doesn’t work. . .wow, that’s hard to wrap your head around that kind of shock and pain. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. . .but at least at the end of it all you have a beautiful baby boy to love.
you know what, i had my 5th baby in Sept. and it was also my fastest…(4 hrs of good labor), and when he came, I was in immense pain…worse than any other baby…we went from 8 cm to fully born (AND got stuck at the shoulders-he was born with his hand by his head, then the arm was pulled out so his shoulders could be fully born) in 7 minutes!! and it was SO FAST-I didn’t even feel his head being born it was just a sea of pain. There was no time to absorb the contractions. i wonder sometimes if faster is harder…bc the body doesn’t have time to adjust. I also felt completely numb with shock after he was born. I feel like I can really relate to your birth story. 🙂
There is truly nothing so sweet and innocent as a newborn baby and the joy of smelling their newborn scent. Like my sister says, newborn babies smell “green.” 🙂 I’m so happy you could get that 3 hr stretch, those moments of deep sleep really rejuvinate a body and mind and make a nice Mommy. 🙂 Praying for you..
Aaah, I love hearing birth stories; thanks for sharing yours! ❤ I love the precious foot picture.Oh, Shanda, I’m praying for you! The joy of the Lord will be your strength, and I know that sunshine and laughter will help as well. I don’t know if I had PPD, but I did struggle emotionally all during the pregnancy and for months after the birth, because I just felt so bad, physically! I’ll never forget the first time I was able to sit up long enough to attend church for the first time, when Lee was 7 weeks old, and being able to sit cross-legged after that many weeks later. Now I feel better than I have in years, actually, and am enjoying the ability to clean and organize my house, and unpack boxes as I have wanted to since our move last year. You are a sweet encouragement even in your time of weakness! You are loved.
Hugs to you my friend. Thank you for sharing all of this. : )
* sigh * Oh, I just love birth stories. How aweful that epi didn’t work for you. I think it’s one thing to not plan on one, but to get one and not have it work has got to be such an aweful shock! Praying you through these coming weeks/months!
the white socks is hilarious, i too had an epidural for my first that didn’t work – oh well. lil seth is precious! can almost smell that newborn baby on the pic of him sleeping in his swing – so soft, and his big sis marveling at him
The optimum time for an epidural *IS* at 5cm. After that, things move quicker and the epidural doesn’t have a chance to do its magic stuff – especially in 10 minutes time! Maybe birth # 7 and 8 will be easier for you . . . YES, that’s a joke! LOLI’m glad you are feeling our prayers. I’ve been up since 3am and you are one person I prayed for. Will continue to lift you up to our Father until everything levels out for you.Maybe it’s time for some “Quiet Beauty”!!!! Hugs to you through cyberville – I’d give you one in person, but you wouldn’t want my strep throat!
Shanda, I just got back online and am so glad to see Seth is here, safe and sound, and you’re doing well. I’ll keep on praying for you as you adjust to your new little man and the new family dynamics. Whenever I think about babies, I remember the verse, James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Awe what a beautiful little blessing he is!
Hugs and Prayers!
Congratulations (belated) on the baby boy!!! He is absolutely adorable.