Dawson's Birth Story
After a 3hr 52min labor, Dawson Scott was born at dawn, on a balmy January morning
Let’s celebrate God’s glory together and bask in the amazement of how perfectly He knits us together in our mother’s womb. This is the story of Dawson Scott - my son - and how he came to be with us 6 weeks ago.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.-Psalm 139:13-14
We waited and we waited. The family holed up in our family’s lake house. Myself, Cooper, Josie, Mimi, Papa & Nana. Patiently waiting to meet our newest member, who seemed so excited to come meet everyone. Every day leading up I experienced a few contractions, getting my hopes up and saying thanks and gratitude each time one came over me as I knew this meant my body was prepping to deliver.
40 weeks pass.
Anxiously waiting. Trying my best to relax into the understanding that, well, 40 weeks is just a generalized marker and is quite literally a guess date rather than a true due date.
On my “due” date, Josie vomited… Cooper and I gave each other a weary look, curious if sickness just hit this house. Well, sure enough… my body began purging as well. I began to get excited (& nervous knowing I needed strength and energy to birth) as I was having many contractions and thought my baby was definitely coming! We called the family to get ready and to come help with our sweet Josie girl… turned out that I was just sick with the bug, and we were all surprised it didn’t induce labor fully. However, also thankful that the family recovered before baby decided to make way. (I think babies can be intelligent like that.)
41 weeks pass.
Monday evening, on January 22nd, Cooper and I were doing paperwork for our business, while our family was across the street in the rental. I had a bit of pink show after a bathroom break. Excitedly, I contacted my midwife “Maybe tomorrow!” Keeping my cool, I quickly & quietly ate the dinner that Mimi prepared and promptly excused myself to go to bed.
Tuesday, January 23rd, I woke up at 1:45a to take a pee. Wishing I’d feel contractions. Trying not to feel discouraged.
At 2:30a, I woke again for the potty and suddenly realized I was having dull contractions. Almost undetectable. I laid back down and tried not to get my hopes up & not stirring too much, letting Cooper get good sleep. I started to feel the contractions over and over. In the next hour they began to get slowly stronger. Thinking “hmm surely not” Never the mind that I was 41 weeks and 2 days, oh yea, surely this isn’t the real deal haha.
I texted Lucy at 3:40a “having contractions 7-11 minutes apart (averaging 8.5 mins apart) Lasting just over a minute long. Trying to snooze but definitely jazzed!”
Her response was immediate “How strong are they? Let me know when they are 5-7 mins apart and/or if you feel like I should come. I’m excited!”
I let her know they felt pretty strong, and I was having to force myself to breathe through them and she could head our way. Letting her know she could sleep in the spare bed if things progressed slowly. Later I found out she kind of giggled, somehow knowing there would be no more sleeping this morning.
I was beginning to feel very, very uncomfortable. Moving all over to figure out how to get comfortable. Releasing my jaw, my hands, my body each time I felt a wave wash over me. At this point, 4:50a, Cooper woke up & started breakfast and drew me a bath (I crave the water while going through labor.) About the time my midwife arrived, I scootched into the shallow cast iron tub. Cooper brought me breakfast and electrolytes to keep up my energy levels. Knowing it would be a long day ahead.
Sitting in the low light of the night light, taking bites as my body allowed, sipping my drink and humming through the contractions, trying not to climb up the tile walls of the tub to run away from the pain. Praying to the Lord in silence. Trying my best to not let fear wash over me as these contractions were strong. Stronger than I remembered with Josie’s labor. Praying that I would release and lean into them. That this child would show gracefully.
Cooper came to check on me around 5:40a, contractions staying consistent at 8 minutes apart for the last hour. He sat with me in the dark while I was telling him how this was harder than Josephine’s and how I was trying to stay calm. When he began to talk, I had another wave at 3min 28sec apart, then suddenly again at 1min 47sec apart.
Hurriedly, he informed Lucy how quickly things are changing, he began filling the birth pool and contacted our parents so they could get dressed.
While he was doing that Lucy & Rae came to me and asked if they could check mine and baby’s vitals. Having two wicked contractions while she was with me. The power in me was proving itself! And somehow everyone, except me, knew this baby was coming right now.
Cooper and Lucy helped me walk to the birth pool that was set up in the laundry room. At 6:13a, I sank into the water, allowing it to come over my big belly and immediately feeling relief; at 6:13 am my water broke!
I am still in denial. This is happening all too quickly.
I asked Cooper to grab me a different piece of clothing as I was in one of his old T-shirts that I tied up on top of my belly so it wouldn’t cling to my skin in the water. At that moment, I felt a wave coming - a strong one - hardly getting words out I begged him to come back. He quickly grabbed my hand. He and Rae were inches from my face, each holding one hand, me on my knees all the sudden realizing ‘My gosh, thank goodness my midwives came when they did, I need to push this baby out!!’
I roared through the next couple of contractions - my body completely took over and I pushed baby’s head out.
Smiling. Relief. Wow.
I cannot believe this is happening. I cannot fathom how quickly this is going. But flooded with joy as I am about to meet my child I have been patiently waiting for.
9 minutes later - at 6:22am - smiling and growling (literally) the rest of my newborn’s body into the water.
Rae removing the chord from baby’s neck and immediately handing baby to me to lay on my chest.
I felt like I knew this child was a boy but was overwhelmed with pure surprise to find out that my baby was indeed - confirmed a sweet little baby boy. Becoming giddy to share the news with the world. With my daughter. With my husband. With my family across the street.
Moved up to the bed now, less than 4 hours later, I was able to snuggle my baby and cry tears of joy and be in awe of the power of my body. I felt triumphant once again!
The WOMAN’S body is spectacular!
GOD is Mighty!
After a 3hr 52min labor, Dawson Scott was born at dawn, on a balmy January morning.
Forever filling our hearts & lives.
Praise the Lord!!
Thank you for reading!
I’ve loved sharing my positive home birth stories here. The woman’s body is absolutely impressive to me. To carry and create life, climb mountains & touch the sky during labor, to roar a sweet and precious soul into our lives, to nourish with mother’s milk… impressive. Thank you, Lord, for these experiences, thank you for this amazing superpower.
All my love, Morgan.
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