The Miracle of Life

“Just a few more pushes and you’ll be parents” I felt the sting of tears as the immensity of the moment hit me, I looked up into Kevin’s face, my rock of support during the 15.5 hour long labor and repeated the words with wonder, “we’re going to be parents!”  I will never forget the tears in his eyes as he smiled back and squeezed my hand. 

“Ok, daddy are you ready to receive your daughter?” asked the doctor.  Kevin’s face changed to all business as he gloved up and with one last immense effort from me our daughter was born into her daddy’s arms and placed up on my tummy under a warm receiving blanket. 

Nothing I can think of will ever compare to this moment.

Or this one.

Or this one.

Though the birth didn’t go as I had planned (after 10.5 hours of active labor I asked for an epidural) it was still one of the single greatest experiences of my life.  I will say that the next baby we have will most likely not be born in a hospital environment as it’s not suitable for medicine free birth.  I was managing labor extraordinarily well until I was forced to follow hospital protocols and procedures which meant no food, no mobility and constant paperwork and distractions.  Keeping myself in a deep state of relaxation proved impossible. I kept being forgotten about since the nurses were short staffed that evening and were dealing with several emergencies that night. They would say things like, we need you to hold still for 20 min. while we get this reading and then they wouldn't return to check on me for 3 more hours.  I knew similar situations would continue occurring and on no sleep (my water broke at 12 am) and no food (hospitals only allow ice chips) I didn’t feel in the right state of mind to calmly handle them unmedicated. 

After overcoming my initial grief at not following through with my plans I look back on the birth of my first with nothing but fondness.  Though I was medicated for the last 5 hours, the birth environment was still exactly what I had dreamed, unhurried with only the midwife, one nurse and Kevin present. Following her birth we were allowed to soak in every beautiful moment with our precious little baby.  It was nothing short of one of the most spiritual experiences of my life.  I felt an instant bond with the baby and a new reckless abandon kind of love for my husband.  We’re a family now!

Maureen Hawkins sums my emotions exactly when she says,

“Before you were conceived, I wanted you.

Before you were born, I loved you.

Before you were here an hour, I would die for you.

This is the miracle of love.”

We're blissfully sleep deprived and loving every minute of our new role as parents.  Babies allow us to view the world with a whole new kind of wonder.  The miracle of life, what an honor to be a part of it!