Olive Brave's Birthing Story:
God preparing the circumstances for a greater blessing
. . . to give you the fullness of what He has planned for your life, He will use the season of waiting to prepare you as a vessel, and also to prepare circumstances around your life so that you will be able to step forward into the proper sphere when His release comes to you. He's waiting so that He can crown you with an even greater blessing."
Bob Sorge Secrets of the Secret Place Ch. 32 The Secret of Waiting
After the revelation of waiting, I declared to myself and others, God is preparing me and preparing the circumstances of birth for greater blessing! And He totally did! The last blog, I shared how God had prepared me by changing my perspective with waiting another week or two and getting my heart set on meeting the daughter God was giving to us. This one will be focused on how God prepared the circumstances (an amazing support team) around Olive's birth for a greater blessing!
After the revelation of waiting, I declared to myself and others, God is preparing me and preparing the circumstances of birth for greater blessing! And He totally did! The last blog, I shared how God had prepared me by changing my perspective with waiting another week or two and getting my heart set on meeting the daughter God was giving to us. This one will be focused on how God prepared the circumstances (an amazing support team) around Olive's birth for a greater blessing!
Labor began on
Tuesday evening, February 17th, when I started to feel contractions while
playing a game with Dan. At this beginning stage, I labored at home with Dan by
my side. Melissa, my Doula, came in the middle of the night and supported me all
the way until all I gave birth. She helped greatly with talking to the
midwives and knowing when to go to the hospital. Contractions continued
for hours until, finally, my water broke around 5 o'clock on Wednesday. After
calling, we were told it was time to go to the birthing center at George
Washington Hospital.
(Alex, the midwife that delivered Olive, Melissa, our doula, and Allison, the student midwife)
We arrived at the
hospital at 7pm, exactly when there is a change in the midwife shift (At GW
Hospital, there are 8 midwives and many student nurses, so I did not know which
ones would be on duty when I got there). I was in the waiting area when
my FAVORITE midwife walked in for her shift! In addition, the student midwife, Allison, who
was working was one that I had met and LOVED! My heart rejoiced as I knew I was
VERY comfortable with them both!
Kimberlee and Olive Kimberlee and her children visiting Olive
As the evening
progressed, I labored long and late into the night. It had now been over 24
hours of constant labor, and I was beginning to be discouraged about the
birthing process. Again God’s timing is perfect in all things. At this point, my
good sister in Christ and my best friend, Kimberlee Hershey,
was able to come to the hospital to be with me. She was able to come because her 5 kids were asleep
for the night. God sent her at just the right time. Her presence changed the atmosphere of the
room and shifted my focus! She basically prayed over me for
the last 5 hours of labor! With renewed focus and support, I made so much
progress!
Soon after
Kimberlee got there, the midwives checked me as I thought it was time to push.
However, I was only 7 cm dilated, and it was not time to push. Honestly I
was so disappointed. It had been so long, and I was tired without food.
As I looked up and saw Kimberlee, I remembered our prayers and declarations from
earlier in my labor when we walked together at the base. I just declared things
like I was created for giving birth
or God is in control and I only need to
surrender. This reminder of declaring God’s truth inspired me to stand up
and scream:
"I am not disappointed! God is in
control! I am making progress! My cervix is opening and the baby's head is
coming down!"
I screamed it as
loud as I could multiple times. As I declared truth, something amazing
happened. I started leaking bloody fluids which meant my cervix was opening and
the baby's head was coming down! The power of prayer was evident, and I know God received so much glory!
Kiera, our amazing nurse who was so calm through the whole process!
(On a humorous note, another nurse came into the room asking if I needed a doctor because I screamed the baby's head is coming down, and she thought that I was about to push out a baby! LOL Everyone laughed and my doula said you have to be careful what you scream around here. It was a good moment of laughter.)
From that point, everything shifted! We changed relaxation music to worship music, and I worshipped. I completely surrendered to the process and the instructions of my nurse, doula, and midwives. Following their instructions, quicken the process greatly! God chose the right midwife, doula, student midwife and nurse for me! It was with their wisdom and guidance, as well as Dan and Kimberlee's support and prayers that I can look back with joy on the birthing experience.
Dan was actually sitting behind me for the birth. I was between his legs as that was my favorite position to push. Literately we birthed the baby together! I cried when they put Olive Brave on my chest; they were tears of pure joy. Olive, who was on my chest, grabbed Dan’s finger and held it as we both bonded with her for the first time in person. It was amazing.
After the moment of taking it all in, I started to speak all the words of identity over her that God had given us as well as the words others have spoken or prayed for her. It was beautiful. I treasure this experience in my heart, I can proclaim that Olive’s birth was an amazing testimony to God’s perfect timing, to His attention to every detail in our lives, and to His incredible faithfulness to us.
A few more pictures of Olive at the hospital!
