Esther Rose's Birth Story

            Each woman’s individual birth story is so unique. Whether the baby is born in the hospital, at home, or even in a car every woman has their own story about each individual child. I would like to share mine and Esther’s story for those interested in hearing about how our home birth went. Why did we choose a home birth? Well, we are by no means against hospitals, but we wanted to have a relaxing environment with complete freedom to walk about, eat, etc. Also, I wanted to stay completely drug free which I attained until I took one Tylenol later in the day for cramping as my uterus contracted. ;) The home birth environment was such a blessing, especially with having our first baby. I did not know how I would react to labor pains or anything to do with the delivery, so I was thankful to be in my own home.

            We went to bed around 10 PM Sunday, December 7^th. I could not go to sleep, so I got up at 11 and started setting up for a restless night on the couch. Then I starting having some cramps which I thought were Braxton Hicks (again). Once midnight hit I knew it was the real deal. I could not stay out of the bathroom and literally had contractions every three minutes, and the contractions were so strong that I decided to finally wake Matt up because I knew I was going to need his support. We paced for about an hour to make sure the contractions did not let up, and then Matt called the midwife around 1. She arrived with her assistant around 2:15 and started setting everything up. I was still dealing with continuous contractions, and I had quite terrible back pain throughout the entire labor and delivery process. I was grateful because the first 5 or so hours seemed to pass by so quickly.

            Around 5 AM I started the transition phase. Boy, that was rough. Typically that stage is not supposed to last super long, but for me it was about 3 hours. I will spare you all the nitty gritty, but let’s just say food didn’t stay in my body and I was pretty upset. On a positive note, my husband was the absolute best ever during my entire labor and delivery process. He stayed with me every minute. We walked around together, he pressed on my back during every contraction, he even literally HELD ME UP when I was pushing. He started catching on to my exact needs and cues in labor. He knew when I needed water and when to draw me close or let me be away from him. This is one aspect that I especially loved about a home birth. I really, really needed my husband during this process, and I believe that is how God designed it. I think husbands are instrumental in calming the mother as well. Personally, Matt and I have a wonderful relationship, so he helped me tremendously. Transition was pretty bad, but then the pushing began.

            Now pushing was not as terrible as I imagined it would be, but there was a tiny bit of my cervix that was stopping the baby from coming all the way down when I was pushing. Also, I did not fully understand how to push, but when the real urge finally came on I really knew what to do. God designed women’s bodies to do this from day one. We have natural instincts that just kick in during the raw experience of childbirth. I had such terrible back pain that I could not sit or lay down during the pushing process. Thus, I squatted during those two hours. It was very hard work on my legs. That is why Matt had to hold me up for those two long hours. There was one moment in the pushing stage where I actually said it was too much and I wanted to give up, but everyone was so encouraging that we were almost there. The baby ended up being in the crowning position for too long, so we had to transfer to the bed quickly and work really hard to get her out. There was some minor tearing and trauma, but God is helping things to heal as they naturally should.

I was on my back for maybe three minutes before she fully emerged into the world. The first thing I said was, “What is it?” It was a girl, our sweet Esther Rose! Matthew and I were so excited and thankful for the whole process. We could not believe God was actually giving us a precious baby to care for on this earth. We know she is ours for the little while that we get to raise her. We hope to raise her in the glory of the Lord for she is His workmanship. Yes, my labor was hard, it was raw, it was the actual wrath of God displayed because of the curse in the garden, but it was all for His glory. Now I’m not going to say I’m ready to go through it all again nine months from now, but glory be given to the One who created my body. May He use me in whatever service He sees fit. Now, if that service is supplying the world with babies and teaching them to have a heart after the Lord, then let it be because I will serve my Maker. Esther Rose Diekman was born Monday, December 8 at 10:15 AM. She was 22 and ½ inches long and weighed 8 pounds and 15 ounces.

 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."  -Psalm 127:3-5