I remember going to natural childbirth classes with my husband when we were expecting our second child, (with my 1st child I had been put to sleep). At the time, we thought that learning breathing techniques, taking a tour of the labor and delivery wing of the hospital, and educating ourselves on how to read the monitors, was enough to prepare us for childbirth.
But let me tell you what (Shaking my head as I have a flashback)...
When those labor pains hit, no amount of preparing I had done equipped me for what I had to go through that evening in May of 1998. After 10 hours of excruciating labor, it was time to push.
"I can do this," I thought. Hey, I had practiced breathing and relaxing techniques in Lamaze class. My Husband was there holding my hand. "You can do it baby," he said calmly and confidently. I was ready to push.
"Bear down," the Doctor said. I pushed as hard as I could.
One push. Two. Three...Four. Ummm...shouldn't there be a baby by now? I started getting lightheaded and the baby's heart rate began dropping rapidly. After an hour of pushing the Doctor said, if you can't push the baby out on your own, we're going to use other measures.
I didn't want that. I didn't want to prolong the stress on me or the baby.
So the next time a contraction hit, I scrunched up my face, and pushed until I couldn't see. I mean, literally, I could not see anything. The nurses had to give me oxygen, but you know what?
I pushed that baby out.
And sometimes, you'll have to push when you can't see anything! It might be hard, but don't stop. You can do it.
Remember, when it comes down to it, preparation without the power of God is insufficient. You see, I knew what to do "in theory", but it wasn't until I experienced that thing, that the innate ability God had given me to bring forth manifested.
Listen. Whatever that vision is that God placed in you, though it may not come as easily as you thought it would, you have the power to give birth. It's not about how many books you read, how much research you do, or how many advisers you have, only God can give you the strength and wisdom you need to push out that vision.
When it gets tough, He'll give you the power and perseverance to stay the course.
Now, that doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare. You should. In some ways, Lamaze class did help me relax when the pain got intense. But once it was time to deliver, most of my training went out the window. All that mattered was taking every ounce of strength I had to bring forth the fully developed seed that had been growing inside me for nine months.
I believe that there is a fully developed seed in everyone just waiting to get out; but you can't get preoccupied because you don't know all there is to know before you push. Nobody does. All you need to do is just believe God to empower you to push.
Everything will be alright.
Don't be afraid. Don't be intimidated by the task that lies before you. The Lord has already given you everything you need to be fruitful.
Just bear down and give it all you've got!
So true! Cute Baby! Happy Mother's Day!
- Stickmom
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