I hope I can do this beautiful story justice! I am going to be completely honest with how I
felt throughout the weeks, days, hours and even minutes leading up to this
birth. What thoughts were going through my head. Things I learned. Things I
loved. Things I hated. Things I could have done differently.
Before we start you need to read this. It will give you a little background on
Michael and Jessica’s story.
Ok. Here we go. If you tend to cry, go ahead and grab some
tissue.
I invited Michael and Jessica to the Bradley Open House that
Jessica DeYoung has at the end of each session. I couldn’t really gage their
feelings with the whole situation. I think my main concern was that I didn’t
feel like I had great credentials. I mean here I am “Go Bradley Birth!” and I
wasn’t able to have one myself. But I had to put my feelings aside and know
that I truly believed in the process.
At the open house there was one other couple to tell their
story (via Skype because their baby was only days old). They went first and
told their amazing all natural Bradley Birth story. It was beautiful! Then came
my gut wrenching, tear filled home birth failure story. Even though Michael and
Jessica already knew our story, telling them in that capacity brought about
different feelings. However, despite my story and how I felt, they decided to
sign up for the 12 week husband coached child birth course!
A few weeks later, after church on a Sunday night, Jessica came
over and said she needed to talk to me.
She said, “Michael and I would like to know if you would be our
assistant coach at our birth.” Just thinking about that conversation makes me
giddy! I was so excited that even with
my ‘broken story’ that they had faith in me to assist with their all natural
birth.
*I know I am talking bad about my birth and all that
really matters is that Thayer is here and healthy, but these were my thoughts
as wrong and sad as they may be.*
I attended a class with them where they were doing labor
rehearsals. I wanted to know what Jessica liked and didn’t like. Does she like
her hair touched, her legs rubbed, a lot of pressure, etc… Even though we have
these labor rehearsals to figure all of those things out, sometimes in labor
the mom feels completely different, but at least I had a starting point.
The weeks and days leading up to her due date started
bringing on different emotions! Everything we planned had to come with a
disclaimer that if Jessica went into labor we would have to abort the mission.
EVERY. SINGLE. WEEKEND in September we were out of town. I made sure Gary
understood that we might drive 3 hours one way just to turn around if Jessica
called. I told my boss, my softball team, and anyone that might be expecting me
the 2-3 weeks around her due date. I made the terrible mistake of telling Jessica
my schedule (one of those things I would have done differently) and she said, “Oh
well if we go into labor during the weekend or in the middle of the night we
won’t call.” WHAT?! Wait a minute! Yes
you most certainly will! The only reason I even told her I would be out of town
was because I wanted her to give me enough time to get back.
Her due date, Wednesday September 23rd, came and
went. Then the weekend. It was our last weekend out of town and Gary knew the
drill. If she went into labor before we left he was still going to take the
kids to my parent’s house and Homecoming at the congregation where I grew up.
If she went into labor while we were already down there we would all leave and
come home.
Saturday before we left I texted Jessica, “Full moon Sunday night!
Might bring baby Oliver out!”
Sunday afternoon after we were done with our church
festivities I texted Jessica to make sure she was doing ok. She replied, “I’ve
had more contractions today and a little stronger, but still not consistent or
anything.” We got home, unloaded the car, took the kids on a walk to try to see
the solar eclipse/blood/super moon, but it was too cloudy, played with the
kids, and put them to bed. The whole time I’m thinking, I really need to get
some rest because I know she is going to call soon. Well…The Walking Dead
Season 5 just got put on Netflix so I guess you know what we did after the kids
were in bed.
We were in the middle of an episode when my phone rang at
11:32. I scrambled to get to it and saw Jessica Woessner flashing on the
screen. I took a deep breath and said, “Hello.”
No comments:
Post a Comment