Here's the extended version of Titus's birth story (really for myself). But for those of you who are like me and enjoy hearing all the details (including the background story), here you go!
Many people have prayed for us so much for years, so you may know that it took a couple of years of trying for us to conceive our daughter Annaliese and that we miscarried once before she was born. So although we wanted to have more kids and sooner rather than later, it was a little unexpected when we found out in late January that our son was to be born before Annaliese would turn 2 years old. Later when we found out where exactly we were moving for medical school we also learned that he was due Oct. 8th, during the week of Andy's first set of exams.
Through many mixed emotions, we've trusted that God had planned for this little guy to be born at the right time. I was so nervous about giving birth a second time for many reasons even though my first birth experience was completely amazing. This time there was no family nearby, having a toddler who needed to be watched over, not knowing my doctor or the hospital well, the possibility of going into labor during one of Andy's tests, fear of the extremely LONG labor I previously went through, the difficult recovery from the tear with Annaliese, plus the usual concern that everything to go smoothly for a healthy delivery for baby & mom.
Listening to Titus's heartbeat
Although my car had been making a noise, we had been told by the mechanic that it was the catalytic converter and though it would probably not pass the next smog inspection, it probably would not cause a big problem. We figured we had until March when the next smog test was due, but started looking for minivans to upgrade for our growing family. At 36 1/2 weeks, I had gone to my college friend Leigh's house in Corona (nearly an hour drive) to visit her and her kids. In the evening on the way back, my car decelerated down to about 35 mph on the freeway about 7 miles away from home. I was able to safely get off and drive to a Bed Bath and Beyond, where we waited for Andy to come get us. We spent the next week driving all over southern California looking for vans and finally bought one and picked it up on the following Tuesday (pictured below at 37 1/2 weeks).
Proud owners of a 2006 Kia Sedona
The next day, after I had gone to meet my new doctor for the first time, I nonchalantly packed a bag at almost 37 weeks, thinking I would go late like I was with Annaliese (40 weeks 5 days). She said I was not leaking amniotic fluid, dilated or effaced at all even though I was losing my mucus plug. I began interviewing doulas-in-training that week since we couldn't afford a certified one, for some extra female support.
On Thursday, Sept. 23, at 37 weeks and 6 days, I had told Andy that I felt the baby SOOO low and didn't think it would be much longer, although I didn't want to get excited too soon since Annaliese took so long. The fourth and final doula, Yarah, came to our house at 8:30 pm that night. I told her that I thought my water may have broken earlier that evening, but it was only a small amount of liquid so I couldn't be sure. I really enjoyed meeting Yarah and told her at the end of our meeting at around 9:30pm that I selected her to attend our birth. I told her that I thought it might be sooner rather than later (I felt another slight gush as she was leaving) and we planned to meet again in a few days. Later I showered, cleaned the bathroom, and went to bed at around 10:45 pm. At 11:23 pm, my eyes popped open with the pain of a hard, low contraction. I immediately thought this might be labor because it was different from the many contractions I had been feeling previously. After the next contractions came at 9 minutes and then 7 minutes, I got out of bed to tell Andy who was studying that I might be in labor. I told him I'd feel better if we got someone to come and stay to watch Annaliese even though this might end up being a false alarm.
I went back to lay in bed and try to relax. The contractions kept coming consistently, low, and hard... and closer together. I called the doula and she encouraged me to get up and walk around and said she'd call back in 20 minutes to check on me. I knew this was it and I could still hear Andy on the phone talking to a fellow student on the phone in the office next to our room. I called him from my cell phone and said, "I need you!" He quickly came to hold my hand, help me breath and try to relax through all the rest of my contractions. He was a great encourager and helper. Two Biola students that we knew from Immanuel High School (where Andy used to teach) were coming to stay with Annaliese. We called our moms and to tell them we were going to the hospital just before 1am.
We got to the hospital after a minor detour for a freeway entrance and we were extremely glad that there was no traffic going into downtown L.A. after midnight! When we got there, I told Andy to go to the wrong (main) entrance, because apparently I missed that important bit of information during the tour. Although I was laboring hard, I actually got out of the car and walked with Andy to the door before we realized that we had to drive around to the back to enter through the ER. I felt the baby so low, but I was able to walk between contractions. I just kept trying to relax and breath though the pain like I had learned in the Bradley classes we took before Annaliese was born.
When we we got off the elevator at the 8th floor for Labor & Delivery, they were washing the floors and, I mean, washing the floors with soap, bubbles, and water all over the entire hallway floor. The smell of cleaner was nauseating. I demanded a wheelchair immediately as I pictured myself barfing and slipping on the wet floor. One custodian dried a strip down the hallway and one went to get the wheelchair, but I just followed in the path of the dry strip toward the check-in desk with Andy. I was on a mission, and I kept saying aloud, sort of to myself and to anyone in earshot, "The baby is coming!"
The hospital had not let me pre-register during my tour since my insurance company had not sent my insurance card yet, so Andy had to fill out some paperwork while I waited (finally sitting in the wheelchair). I urgently asked if there was any way they could hurry the process up... "The baby is coming!"
In the triage room, I screamed in pain when a nurse checked me during a contraction and said that I was about 7-8 cm. She had to do it again for some reason and said that I was actually more like 8-9 cm. Then I had to move to another bed after I was wheeled to an L&D room. The nurses there saw my birth plan and confirmed that I wanted a "Bradley" birth (I had previously not heard it called a "Bradley" birth, but rather more typically a natural or unmedicated birth).
Yarah met us in the L&D room and was very encouraging and offered some massage techniques, but I wasn't interested. The nurses put an external monitor on my belly, called the on-call doctor, and allowed things to progress. I kept saying again and again, "The baby is coming!" and tried to relax through the contractions, but finally I could not. I had to push. The nurses said to do what I needed to do. I was lying on my side, but did not have the unbearable pain in my hips like I did with Annaliese. After a couple pushes, I was shocked that he was already out! Since the doctor hadn't arrived in time, the nurses had to follow protocol and wipe him off and cut the cord before handing him to me.
It was amazing to hold our son and take him in with my eyes after carrying him inside of me for months.
The on-call doctor whom I had never met came about 10 minutes later and delivered the placenta and said that I had not torn! (Praise the LORD!) The nurse told me I had to go pee before I could be transfered to a postpartum room, but I just couldn't go! So she wanted me put a catheter in me, but after having such a wonderful, unmedicated and natural birth (no IV or anything), I couldn't stand to have a tube stuck inside of me just to transfer me downstairs more quickly.
I felt great and I was able to walk myself to the restroom, but couldn't relax enough to go. Yarah was a great help and suggested that I relax in a warm shower while Andy held the baby. The nurse asked her charge nurse if it was ok that I wanted to wait longer since I apparently was at risk of bleeding internally, but finally I was able to go and avoided the catheter!
The next day, Andy brought Annaliese to visit in the hospital and she did wonderfully! She was very gentle, but excited to meet her baby brother whom she called "Ticey." She made us all laugh with her energy and antics around the hospital room.
Andy's mom Dale drove down from San Jose and met us at the hospital and took Annaliese home. Although I honestly felt like I could have gone home that evening, but we ended up staying another day.
On Saturday, as we were drove home from the hospital, we thought of the many ways that God had provided for us in this birth and here are just a few of them:
- Andy was home and able to help me through labor.
- Our friends were able to come over and watch Annaliese with no notice. Also, Annaliese did surprisingly well, waking up with her parents gone and two strangers there to take care of her.
- We had reliable auto transportation to get us to the hospital, were able to get to the hospital without getting lost (I had gotten lost previously and Andy had never been before) and that there was no traffic.
- The labor was short, but long enough that we were able to get to the hospital.
- The insurance transition, which took place only a couple of weeks prior, was in place.
- Although the doctor did not arrive in time to catch the baby, the nurses were nice and allowed things go naturally.
Of course we were most thankful that Titus was born safely and in health. To God be the glory!
