I’ve known Marissa for {fill in the blank} years. I can’t even remember. And, she wrote this awesome post on birth stories. So, while I am busy typing mine (yeah right. I’ll get there.), listen to what she has to say. And, even though Marissa doesn’t have a blog for you to follow, she loves to write, and I am always happy to let her use my little place for her creative outlet. So, since you can’t follow her on Bloglovin’, show her the lovin’ with your comments below.
Jenna had a baby! He is beautiful! He is amazing! His big sister loves him! But, how did he get here?
I am a sucker for birth stories. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for Sam’s. Sure, he is super cute, and mom and dad are all in love and emotional, and I love that too…But getting here, arriving in the world at the exact moment in time to take your first breath…and the whirlwind story to make it happen. Now that is life at its fullest!
Did you ever get to hear your birth story? (I dont want to disclude my adoption moms. The moment your baby meets you, and that journey does the same thing for my excitement) I know mine. I caused my mom to be in labor all day. Tough labor with piggy back contractions that I didnt appreciate fully until I gave birth. I was stubborn, wouldn’t come out, and was delivered via c-section. I’m humbled. My mom labored for me all day only to have them cut me out. I know where I was born, my time of birth and that I came early. From the moment I arrived, I became rooted in the world with a time and place; it is my own beginning.
Heck ya, I know where I was created…Mexico and a few margaritas…but my exsistance of myself started the moment I was cut away from my mother and arrived to be part of God’s design. He worked on me for nine months with the help of my parents and then decided…you are offically you. Time to be part of my design within the world as yourself. Love.
I have heard amazing stories. Some of my friends labored for hours, pushing themselves through amazing pain to bring their child into the world. My cousin began delivery on the way to her birthing center, forcing herself NOT to push in order to not deliver in the car. Due to a variety of circumstances she ended up on the birthing ball holding her child’s head in her hands as her daughter was coming whether or not the midwife was there. Her husband finished the delivery, and two minutes later, the midwife arrived and cut the cord. It is a painfully funny, beautiful, endearing story. It is her daughter’s story of coming into this world.
I vividly remember my daughter’s story. It was a mix of frustration and humor having been on petocin all day. The doctor asked me if I wanted to stop it for a little while, turn it off, take a break, and come back to it. I thought he was nuts. Who stops labor to come back to that pain? I made different choices, went into active labor and love every moment that happened….even if I did freak out when a cell phone rang. And I remember knowing without seeing her that she was a girl…feeling them lay her on my stomach and hearing that first crying breath. She was alive because, at that moment, God designed her to be.
It is the most amazing moment in time. The time you are born. So I wait for Sam’s story. His moment. I’m sure I’ll laugh or cry or both. I’ll place his story in my heart right next to everyone else’s. And I’ll thank God again for adding Him to our world.
Beautiful, Marissa! I don’t like the nitty gritty of birth stories and actually almost skipped this, but I’m glad a didn’t!
thank you! i do feel birth stories get a bad rap. they are so significant, yet clouded with the science of it all. I understand people may be turned off if they feel the need to be spared the details…but I am hoping people give them another look! thanks for reading!
I thought this was a beautiful post too. I also enjoy a good birth story, especially about people I care deeply about… so I can’t wait to read what Jenna writes about Sam’s arrival! I have to say though that my firstborn was stillborn, and although he never got to experience that first breath of air or to have his being on earth be separate from mine, I believe his story started from the moment he was conceived and not at that moment he was born. Don’t get me wrong, I think the moment a baby is born is quite significant, but it is in my opinion already well along on the timeline of a person’s life story. And even though my son’s birth was the saddest day of my life, through God’s grace I still was able to experience the awe and joy of holding my baby boy and I will never forget that moment for as along as I live. I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer here, but I also wanted to speak up for mamas with a different side to their baby’s birth stories. And with that being said, I still can say that I love a good birth story because I know first hand just how miraculous that first breath really is.
debbie downer!? no way! i cannot say that ive walked your shoes in losing a child, but know that my heart feels much joy for each child out there. i have listened and loved so many stories of children called home at various times before their parents. from early miscarriages to young adults. my friends are mothers who lost their babies while mine continued on. my family holds on to children taken for no reason at all. i questioned for a long time…what is the point? i cried into my own daughters hair the night my friend said goodbye to her daughter born four weeks before my own. Why does God choose some children right away? why let them live for only a few months only to b brought home? and why do others never open their eyes? and then one of my friends started talking one night. she mentioned her brother, Thomas, whom I had never met nor heard of…which was weird because I lived with her family. Her mother had carried a child between her and her sibling who didnt make it. I cant remember what the case was, but, he was no longer there. however, Thomas is a part of their family. He is a story. He is part of their conversations, and I never questioned God of his choice again. If Thomas had been born, would her next brother not have been? My friend who carried her baby among serious trials a tribulations, only for her to be called home after never going home, was blessed w two amazing twins a year later. Pregnancy, labor, delivery is painful, hurting, haunting. you throw your whole being into it with no control over the outcome. we are powerless. yet, God is not. He had designed your child for that moment, and know that your sons beautiful story means the world to me. when we are all reunited at the end, and your child thanks you for bringing him into exsistance so that he could immediately be born into Gods Grace, your childs lfe, from conception to end on earth will continue to burn as significant life moments. i dont think you are a downer at all, and I am truly humbled you shared it. Praying for your son, and for all mothers suffering loss! Grace is yours for those of us who cannot understand look to yoir strength!
Thanks for your sweet response Marissa! I was hoping that I didn’t misspeak, because I thought your post was beautiful in every way. I just felt moved to share my tidbit in case another mother had a similar experience as mine. I know for some of my friends who have lost little ones, birth stories can be very difficult to hear. I am thankful that through God’s grace and two healthy babies later that I can still enjoy a good birth story and will always be in wonder and awe of the miracle of that first breath!