Born into Her Daddy's Hands
Between contractions I figured I’d better hurry into the bathroom while I had the chance. I quickly emptied my bladder before I got into the tub.
I sank gratefully into the relaxing warm water. I laid on my side, trying to cover as much of my tummy with water as possible. My contractions were coming faster and had become very intense. I found it harder and hard to relax. Even so, somehow I dozed slightly between contractions.
I had been in the bathtub for about ten minutes when, while concentrating during a contraction, I began grunting briefly. Was it a pushing urge? Already? Thinking it might have been my imagination, I didn’t say anything. I happily noticed that Calvin was in the room quietly watching.
John finally had a chance to call our midwife to let her know I was farther along, and while he talked to her I felt a pushing urge again and uncertainly told John I felt a little “pushy.” He told my midwife, and then I heard John say, “Oh, no, don’t tell me that.” After a few brief pauses during which I later learned that she gave him simple instructions for what to do when the baby was born--when the baby comes out, pick the baby up and put the baby on Jeri’s tummy and cover the baby with a couple towels or blankets--I head him say, “Okay.”
I moved around in the water trying to get comfortable, and, finding it difficult to relax, I finally whined, “I can’t do it!” I had said that soon before I delivered both of my other babies, and I thought to myself, oh, no. . . I’m feeling this way already. . . what if it’s really not time to have my baby yet? How will I be able to handle it if my labor lasts longer?
Feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of the contractions, I sat up in the tub and yelled out, “Please help me, God!”
John calmly told me, “Jeri, you’re doing good. The baby will be here soon.” I briefly wondered if he was he just trying to make me feel better. I hoped what he said was true. . .
Soon after, laying in the water a little on my left side, I felt a nice, strong pushing urge. I felt relief
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