The Birth of Luke Daniel: November 21, 2011

Sunday's Sermon

Knowing our lives were getting ready to change forever, Scott and I woke up Sunday, November 20 trying to act as "normal" as possible. Just like any other Sunday we went to Covenant Presbyterian for worship, and Pastor Tim preached from a passage in Ephesians.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Little did I know how applicable this scripture would be to the next 24 hours. Our entire birth experience, although very different than what we had originally "planned", was so much better than we could have ever "planned", asked for, or imagined.

The Labor

Due to the medicine I was taking, we could not carry the baby past the due date because of placenta deterioration. Basically, it was way too dangerous to stay pregnant past the 21st and the risk of the baby being stillborn increased dramatically. The last week of pregnancy was an emotional roller coaster in the sense that I did not want to be induced, but I knew

it was what was best for the baby. I have heard horrible stories about induction and pitocin: the long labors, the unimaginable pain. All week long Scott and I prayed that my body would be a "favorable" induction candidate.

When we arrived at the hospital at 6pm on Sunday. I was 1 centimeter dilated and 25% effaced: not the greatest conditions, but not hopeless. It may be hard to believe, but one of the things I was most anxious about was the IV. If you read any blog posts dating back to July 2010, my horrible history with IVs is well documented: the nurses either can't get a vein or the IV (that they normally put in my hand) always seems to blow out. Due to my bad luck with hand IVs, I asked the nurse if she could put it anywhere but in my hand. Well... after a failed attempt in my arm, they did have to put the IV in my hand.

Things being more than we "could ask or imagine" Memory #1: I didn't want an IV in my hand. Every hand IV I have ever had has blown out. The nurse not only was able to get the IV successfully in my hand the first try, but the IV worked wonderfully all the way until it was removed until Wednesday. To God be the glory...

The doctor inserted Ceravdil Sunday night in hopes that it would cause more effacement so that the induction would be "easier". After a wonderful night of sleep (thanks to awesome nurses and Ambien), the doctor came in on Monday, November 21 and the Ceravdil caused me to efface to 60% with 1 centimeter dilation. Not great, but it was progress so Pitocin was started at 7am. I know "bad news" tends to travel fast, so all the "bad induction stories" were running through my head: all the pain, the "upping" of Pitocin every 20 minutes. Needless to say, I was extremely nervous.

Things being more than we "could ask or imagine" Memory #2: After starting Pitocin at 7am and knowing it would only "get worse" , I decided to take a nap. For the last five or so weeks, I had been feeling WONDERFUL; and now was no exception. Starting around 8:30am, I started to feel my abdomen tighten. I wasn't quite sure what it was, it didn't hurt, it just felt as if someone was tightening a rope around my abdomen. Apparently I had a funny look on my face, but Scott and my Mom reassured me that I was having contractions. OH MY!! I was so excited! In hopes to bring on more contractions, I was moving around and rocking in the chair. By 11:30am the contractions were 3 minutes apart and lasted for one minute each, but I still did not feel any pain just an intense tightening of my abdomen. By noon, I was taking 20 units of Pitocin (the maximum amount they can give you) and having contractions 2-3 minutes apart, but I was not in any sort of pain (and I had not had any pain medicine). Yes, the tightening of each contraction was uncomfortable, but it didn't hurt. When I tell this to women who have taken Pitocin, they find it hard to believe that I had 20 units and felt nothing. I would have never have thought to ask God (or even imagined praying) for 12 hours of painless labor while taking Pitocin, but I guess He did. To God be the glory...

After taking multiple naps and breathing through the tightening sensation, we were trying to find ways to pass the time. We watched TV, talked, walked around. The most fun was having our family text in their gender and weight predictions. Although I predicted the gender to be a girl, I was eventually disqualified because I kept changing it. One hour I would say girl, the next hour I asked Scott to change it to boy.

The Delivery

Around 12:30 or 1pm, the doctor came in to assess my progress. At 1pm (after Cervadil and 20 units of Pitocin), I was still only dilated 1 centimeter and 60% effaced. Although I anticipated being EXTREMELY bummed out, this peace (which really did transcend my understanding) came over me. I just felt like God had a different plan. When the doctor suggested breaking my water, I become really nervous because so many people had said how the pain become unbearable when that happened. I took a deep breath, said a quick prayer of "God be with me", and said okay. When the doctor did her exam, she said she couldn't break my water even if she wanted to because my cervix was too long. Again, I thought I would be extremely bummed out, but this peace came over me saying "Melody, trust me. It is going to be okay". So... the next step was C-Section scheduled between 6pm and 7pm.

Things being more than we "could ask or imagine" Memory #3: Sure, I didn't dilate past 1 centimeter or efface more than 60%, but I had a painless labor from 7am to 7pm. Many people I have heard have are in horrible pain, traumatic conditions, and still have to have a C-Section. Me... I was able to get lots of rest, spend sweet quality time with Scott and my Mom, and having nothing but wonderful, sweet memories of my labor experience. To God be the glory...

The nurses came into our room around 6:45pm, saying they would be coming in shortly to take us to the operating room. AHH! We were getting ready to become parents! My mom couldn't help but laugh at me and Scott. She said when they gave us the "15 minute warning", I was sitting on the bed staring off, Scott was standing in the corner staring off, and my mom was laughing hysterically on the couch because both of our faces were like "WHOA! Is this really going to happen?"

Things being more than we "could ask or imagine" Memory #4: I was extremely nervous about getting a spinal. I hate needles. It's not that I just don't like them, I really do think I have a phobia. I was so nervous, my whole body was shaking. This wonderful nurse (more on that later), gave me a hug and told me she would be here. While waiting for the anesthesiologist, I kept saying "God, today has been the best day ever. Please be with me. I don't know if I have the strength because I cam so scared". And just like before, this peace came over me. As I was hugging this nurse, I felt the anesthesiologist working and poking. I asked her "when are we going to start", and she laughed "I am already done, you should feel the medicine take effect in like a minute". WOW! I didn't even feel it. To God be the glory...

Once I was laid on the table and the drape was put up, Scott entered the room. I was so anxious. I couldn't believe, after four years, this moment was finally here. Scott and I were talking: mainly mushy "I love you"s and we hear the doctor say "You are going to be parents in about 60 seconds". Scott said it was the longest 60 seconds of his entire life. After what felt like an eternity, the doctor told Scott to stand up and meet this child. Scott stood up and all I heard was "OH MY GOODNESS!" I yelled "What?" and Scott looked at me and said "IT'S A BOY!" Luke Daniel Mersiovsky entered the world on November 21 at 7:37pm.

Over the past four years, I had anticipated this moment in my head over and over again. Honestly, I didn't know how I would react because part of me really did believe this was never going to happen for us. When they held our baby boy over the sheet and I heard that powerful cry... words can't explain it. Scott said I just started to cry hysterically. The love, the thankfulness, the overwhelming emotion of finally seeing our alive, healthy baby just over took me. I just cried.
The picture below was taken in recovery (yes, I will still crying), but I think it captures the raw emotion that overwhelmed my system.

Four years worth of prayers expressed through tears. Cries of pure thanksgiving.

Things being more than we "could ask or imagine" Memory #5: Once it was decided that Baby Mersiovsky was not descending and a C-section was necessary, I was very anxious about what would happen after delivery. When we were planning for a natural delivery, I was anticipating the baby being placed on my chest and having an hour of nursing and snuggling. Once we decided a C-section was medically necessary to meet Baby Mersiovsky, I asked the nurse how long it would be before I got to hold, nurse, and snuggle with the baby. She reassured me it would be about 20 minutes; and I was okay with that. Since my C-section was scheduled for Monday evening, the staff changed and I was able to meet the actual nurse who would be in the operating room. I asked her the same question I asked before: How long would it be before we could hold and nurse the baby? She told me that the 20 minute response was unrealistic and that it would be close to two hours before I would see the baby. I lost it. Two hours? The nurse said that there were 4 other babies how had just born and that they would need about 2 hours because the nursery workers had to tend to the other babies first; she said it wasn't ideal, but it is all they could do with the staff they had. To say the least... I lost it. The thought of not seeing this long awaited baby for two hours killed me. As I sat on the bed crying, pouring out my heart, and asking if there was anything that could shorten this "wait" time, this sweet nurse said she would see what she could do. Come to find out, these nurses went out of their way to accommodate Scott and I, and to keep the baby with us at all times. One nurse even stayed after her shirt ended to take care of the baby in our postpartum room so the baby would never have to go to the nursery. WOW! This was so much more than we could have asked for or imagined. These nurses will forever hold a special place in my heart.To God be the glory...

After Luke was born, he was thoroughly assessed and passed with flying colors.

Things being more than we "could ask or imagine" Memory #6:While I was pregnant, the doctors were concerned about the baby's size. Research tends to show that mother's with gestational diabetes tend to have large (almost too large) babies. Also, doctors have noticed that babies whose mothers had gestational diabetes had low blood sugar and needed bottles of sugar water to stabilize. Since I planned on nursing (and newborns can suffer from nipple confusion) I was extremely anxious about the thought of Luke having a bottle. Well... again things were better than we could have asked or imagine. Luke was a big boy at 8 pounds 12 ounces, but it wasn't because of the diabetes but instead because he was a healthy, strong boy from families that tend to have large babies. Also, Luke's glucose levels were taken every 15 minutes for 2 hours and his blood sugar levels were all normal and he never needed to take a bottle. To God be the glory...

Things being more than we "could ask or imagine" Memory #7: After we were rolled from the operating room to the postpartum room, the nurses laid Luke on my chest. Towards the end of my pregnancy I was extremely nervous about breast feeding: the baby not latching on, milk production, awkwardness. Well... once Luke was placed on my chest, he bobbed his head around, latched on perfectly, and has been a nursing champion ever since (no pain, high milk production, no awkwardness). To God be the glory...

Did I plan on having an unmediated, natural childbirth? Yes. I had heard nothing but horror stories of inductions and C-sections, and I was scared to death. I wanted Luke to come "naturally", but God had other plans. God was in control from the very beginning, He just wanted me to TRUST HIM. Actually during the C-section, the doctor told me that we had made the right choice of having a C-section because even if was able to wait two more weeks and induction wasn't necessary, my cervix would have been just as unresponsive.

Would I consider my induction, labor and delivery a failure? Absolutely not. I had a painless labor, a smooth non-traumatic C-section with amazing doctors and nurses, and we were able to cuddle, hold, and successfully nurse our extremely health baby boy. Honestly, November 21 was one of the best days of my entire life. Definitely a success story in my book.

Things being more than we "could ask or imagine" Memory #8:To make this story even more perfect, and to show God's amazing timing, we were able to bring Luke home on Thanksgiving Day. I can't think of a better way to celebrate God's provision and protection over the last 17 months, then starting our new life with our son. To God be the glory for the great things He has done.