The Birth Story

Before I forget all the details... 

October 13th, 2008 came and went and no baby. Then nine days past due, on October 22nd, we met our midwives, Sylvia & Lydia and Dr. Obioha at Ridge Meadows Hospital for our induction appointment. I was first induced at 8:40 in the morning of the 22nd with a gel and then again at 3:00 in the afternoon. I was placed on a monitor that recorded contractions and the baby's movements... Matthew became Midwife Matthew at this point because of his curiosity with regards to this fancy machine! In the afternoon of the 22nd I started to get Braxton Hicks contractions at more consistent intervals... but we weren't quite there. Home we went at 4:30.

Home consisted of being very uncomfortable... and just waiting around. My mom came over and we played Dutch Blitz... then I went to rest. By dinner time, Matthew had his boys over and was very restless... it's hard to wait around for something to happen.. Nicole came over to keep me company... and then started to time my contractions. Then finally.... as I was sitting on my exercise ball talking with Matty & Nicole... my little good luck charm walked through the door... JOEL! I looked at him... and then said: "Get out"... and literally a second later my water broke. We all laughed and thought how hysterical this was... that was the only highlight of the evening... because then things were in motion and the painful part had officially begun. 

The midwives came over and inspected the situation.. post water breaking.. and decided I could continue to labour at home. So Matthew and I went to it... and contractions were getting pretty intense. After throwing up twice from the pain... Matthew phoned the midwives (whom he now adores) and they suggested we go to the hospital. At this point I was not doing too great and wanted to reconsider pain options. We left for the hospital at 12:30... by 1:00 am they had given me Morphine and I was able to semi-sleep through the remainder of my contractions. They explained that the pain of contractions after being induced can sometimes be sharper... and therefore the Morphine would help dull the pain a little. I can tell you... I would not have been able to do continue on like I did without the help of that drug. 

Matthew, my Mom, Sylvia and Lydia then supported me while I continued having contractions until around 4:00 am. It was such a great relief to have them supporting me during this time. I kept my eyes closed for most of that time... and they rubbed my back and held my hands and totally helped me through it... My dream team! Then at 4 something... the pushing began. Thank the Lord for Matthew & my Mom who held my legs through the hours of pushing that came... that support allowed me to push until around 8:00 when the Doctor had to be called in to assess the situation. After 4 hours of pushing, baby's head was just not moving. So Dr. Obioha decided that a vacuum would be used to get baby out. 

At this point I could remember the room being bright with a beautiful morning light... I knew the end was near. I could hear people explaining what was going to happen... My job: to push with everything I had! Unfortunately... the suction of our Dirt Devil Vacuum wasn't working... so another option was presented. I remember just praying... please just no c-section, I can do this... I didn't want a c-section after pushing for so long because you have to heal twice: labour & cesarian section... not what I was hoping for. So forceps were brought out and the Doctor made it very clear that I had to do this... and so in the brightness of the morning at 8:31 am... with Matthew to my left and my Mom to my right... baby Sophia Grace Robinson was born. 

I had had my eyes closed that the first thing I saw when they placed her on top of me was her beautiful face and her little eyes looking up at me! She was here... and so present!!! It was such a gift to see her little face... and her arms all out-stretched! Then the madness ensued... testing, and stitching, and laughing, and tears... and JOY! Baby girl was out in the world and then Matthew was able hold her and take care of her... she loved him so much the moment she laid eyes on him! He was up and around showing everyone his daughter. My mom was pretty overwhelmed.. and started crying and then followed baby around with Matthew! I believe her first visitors were Joel & Nicole in the hallway (they had snuck in at 6:00 am and waited so long...)

After they had repaired me... the wonderful Mrs. Beattie (nurse and mother of a lovely Maple Ridge family that we know) took care of Matthew & I and gave us the inside track to a private room, and also helped us get the information we needed. Matthew & I then had visitors and then rested with our beautiful baby girl for the rest of the day.

I have to say that this experience was the most interesting of my entire life... And I don't mean "interesting"... I mean that I have learnt so much and grown so much as a person from those moments in my life. I was so curious to know what labour "felt" like and what it would mean... and it is so not a one person job. I know I could not have done what I did without the support of the many people around me... especially my incredible husband. We made this child together... and boy did he ever help bring this child out in the end.... full circle! He was such an incredible supporter and leader!

Our daughter is such a pleasure... We love her little cry and her little faces! She is a little doll and we are reminded of how much God has blessed us when we look at her. We honestly can not believe everything that has happened in past couple of days... but when looking at her it all feels so... right. What an incredible journey being pregnant has been and now with delivering baby girl into the world... we can't wait to see what new paths life will take us on!

Woot Woot... to Baby Sophia Grace Robinson being born!!!!