Mastering YOU Monday...mind over matter

Okay, so my post today was inspired by a conversation I had with my daughter the other day...out of all things...childbirth, IKR! Quite ironic, considering she's not planning on giving us grand kids anytime soon. But I'll save that for another post.


Not quite sure how the conversation started, but I'm glad it did, because I wanted to throw my two cents into the bucket
concerning the conversations I've been seeing throughout the internet about natural birth vs epidural. I'll start off with my first birth(almost 25 years ago). Don't worry, I won't make this long and drawn out...I promise! ;-) Of course as a first time parent, you never really know how a birth feels until you actually grow through it. Believe me, when they tell you it feels like severe cramps. Let's just say...the lies they tell! 


I went to the hospital thinking I was going to go right in, have my daughter and voila, it's over. Not so fast! First and foremost, my nurse should have been named Edwina Scissorhands, as she was obviously one of those women who thinks super long nails are cute. I mean, don't they(hospitals) have a policy against that? For reasons unbeknown to me, she proceeded to check to see if I was dilated. I was groggy but not stupid y'all! *It's amazing what you'll awaken for EVEN if you're under the influence of drugs* Ummm...no ma'am.I.don't.think.so! I had some choice words for her, but my sweet husband who felt sorry for me, calmed the situation. After ALL of that, I was in labor for 26 hours, when it was brought to my doctor's attention that my daughter was in distress so I had to have a last minute c-section. What a let down, especially since I could have had the c-section earlier...ya think? Needless to say, the medicine took such a toll on my body, that I couldn't even enjoy the "complimentary" steak dinner they gave new parents. I was bigger than I was when I was pregnant and had to stay in the hospital for five days until the swelling went down. Regardless of the nightmarish labor process, we were blessed with or first child Kerington Michell.



Onto ordeal #2! 22 years ago I was sitting in the Big Boys restaurant on E. Jefferson in downtown Detroit(it's amazing how you remember every little detail). I was smart this time though. I was determined to eat my birthday "shortcake" before going to the hospital, as I couldn't imagine myself chewing on ice for 24 hours...AGAIN! I would just have to suffer the consequences...well, the doctors would have to, at least. Anywho, yet another 24 + hours of labor, another epidural and another instance where the doctor had to break my water. Oh wait, did I mention that my doctor was out of town and I had a foreign doctor as his replacement, who wouldn't allow my husband into the delivery room! So there I was, giving birth...BY MYSELF! To say that I was pissed would be an "under" statement! But I was so ready for it to be over, I just didn't care anymore! Ya'll this whole childbirth thing was looking real bleak to me...sigh. But, as with my first birth, this one brought another beautiful baby into our lives, Joel Austin,  who of course has filled our lives with  joy! 

 Now for the the "surprise" birth. I was determined this time that I was going to do something different. Because I HATED I.V.'s, I thought I'd be smart(and I'm not talking in an intellectual way here either). Because I was determined I didn't want to have another hospital birth(with I.V.'s), I researched birthing centers in the Detroit area. I'll admit people, I was NOT thinking of the positive effects at all when seeking out the birthing centers(it.really.was.all.about.the.fact.that.I.didn't.want.an I.V.in.my.arm!) ...IKR! YEP, I really was willing to forgo a "pain free" delivery in order to NOT have an I.V. stuck in my arm...GO FIGURE! 18 years ago, it happened again. But this time something miraculous took place! While I had my own reasoning for choosing the birthing center, God had a totally different plan in mind! This just wasn't any old birthing center, this birthing center allowed me to bring my family in(our two oldest were in the connecting room eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and coming and going back in my room as they pleased). I was allowed to blast my worship music...pray in the spirit...and read my Word. It was beautiful! The atmosphere was so relaxing and peaceful. So much so, that my water broke(on it's own). My husband took me in and within 3 hours we had Blake Alexander!  NO pain medicine and absolutely NO PAIN(I'm not exaggerating folks)! No screaming at all...actually, my husband said I kept whispering "I'm pushing, I'm pushing", lol!  BUT, the funniest part of this story...when I arrived at the birthing center, the nurse had to put an I.V. catheter in my arm "just in case" of an emergency! GAHHHHH, WHAT, YOU'RE KIDDING ME RIGHT?!! Yep, the very thing I feared ended up happening anyway!! I guess I should have made my concerns known to the nursing staff, before hand, huh? Oh well, I guess God was in control the entire time!


Let's just say I'll be 46 this year and I THANK GOD my childbirthing years are over! Lol! So I'll leave that to all of you beautiful, glowing, "eager as a beaver" mothers to be! And I pray your experience will be a beautiful one! One thing I can say is that regardless of the pain and everything that goes with giving birth, what(who) you get in return will far outweigh your experience!  Remember, it's good pain...there is a reward at the end! :-)



I shared my story, because I hope it will be an encouragement to anyone who is trying to make a decision as to what's best for them. But my main purpose for sharing, is I truly believe that anything ordained and created by God, will only work at it's best when it's carried out His way!  I can't explain to you why my first two births(with ALL the medicine and technology in the world) were so horrible and my last one(in a bedroom outside of the hospital, with the only evidence of it NOT being my actual bedroom was the I.V. in my arm)was a beautiful supernatural one! But I do know this, when you completely rely on God, He'll completely take care of you! 

I can tell you this much, after that experience, my relationship with God grew, my faith grew and I've never looked at life the same. It proved to me that when we put our minds to it, the human body is capable of doing more than we think! 
Psalm 55:12, Proverbs 3:5



*Tell me, what was a pivotal moment in your life where your faith grew?
*If you've given birth, what was your experience? 
*Would you recommend a natural birth? Why or why not?

All Rights Reserved copyright© 2012-2014 Michell Pulliam “Prowess and Pearls” by Michell Pulliam

 

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