Birth Stories - Judah

After the middle-of-the-night false labor incident on Tuesday, I was feeling a little out of sorts. I continued to have contractions off and on throughout the day on Wednesday, and then Thursday. Around noon on Thursday, they started feeling a bit different, a little more painful and regular, so I started timing them. They were 10-12 minutes apart, so I figured it was more of the same. As time went on, though, the pain definitely got more intense, and I began to feel slightly nauseus, as well. So I called Michael (who had to work late that day) and he asked me to call our friend Jenny over to keep me company and just incase I thought I needed to go over to the hospital.

I felt a little foolish calling Jenny again, afraid that it would be just another false alarm, but after she arrived, the contractions picked up in a big way - they began coming every 3-5 minutes, very regularly, and were quite painful. Jenny fixed us all dinner and then I called Michael to see where he was on his way home - I wanted to wait for him before we left for the hospital, and sure enough, he was only about 15 minutes away. So we got the kids ready, Michael got home, changed his clothes, and we loaded up the van and headed over to the hospital, Jenny and kids in tow :-) We got to the hospital around 7:20 pm.

They were very quick to get me checked in and get the midwife to check me. I was SO nervous that she was going to say still no progress, but she said "Oh, you're a good 7 cm!" Hooray! I was really in labor, and in fact, almost done! Michael and I were ecstatic! We talked about breaking my water, but I said I'd rather wait until I was fully dilated, so we spent about 2 more hours talking and visiting with the friends and family that showed up (I think all of our extended family members fill the waiting room, lol!). Contractions were rough, and I remember one specific scripture that kept coming to mind during them - Psalm 18:1-2

"I love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

and what comfort that verse brought to me! He surely was my strength and my fortress during the pain (and is always!).

Finally the midwife came in for another check and I was almost complete, so she said she'd go ahead and break my water. It was a little after 9 pm, and within a few minutes, she suggested I try pushing. I didn't have a huge urge, but we all figured it was time to get the show on the road and have a baby already ;-) Pushing was hard. I dislike pushing more than contractions, I really do. Michael laughed at me afterwards because at one point during the pushing, I said "Put my legs down, I'm not pushing anymore" and the midwife had to talk me into the fact that yes, I was actually going to have to do some work to get this baby to come! I guess I got a bit stubborn, lol!

However, even though it seemed like an eternity to me, after about 30 minutes of pushing, at 9:55 pm, Judah entered the world. And of course, we've all been waiting eagerly to see whether the baby was a boy or a girl, and when the midwife said boy, I laughed out loud and was filled with absolute joy! I can't believe I am the mother to five young men! I was beyond thrilled, and couldn't BUT praise God!

As soon as he was born, I knew his name was to be Judah. It was a name that we had mentioned in passing, but not given alot of real consideration, but it just seemed to be the perfect fit once I saw him. Michael took some time to pray about it and we discussed other options, but, obviously, in the end, we both agreed Judah would be it! Judah means "praise, thankful" and the story of the name is in Genesis 29:35 - Leah, who is desiring Jacob's love and attention, had borne him three sons already, and named them each names that indicated she hoped Jacob would finally love and appreciate her. When her fourth was born, she realized that her focus was on the wrong thing - instead, she said "This time I will praise the Lord", and named her son Judah.

And so, praising God for our fifth son, he is named Judah.

Turngren has a special meaning, as well. Becca, Michael's sister who recently passed away, had gotten married just nine months earlier, taking on the name Turngren as her last name. We chose it for Judah's middle name to not only honor Becca, but also so that her husband will always be a part of us, and our family, tied forever through Becca's love. Jeff is a wonderful man, and we love him very much.

Michael did an excellent job of taking pictures during the evening (nothing indiscreet!), so I will try to put together a slide show soon. We are settling into "real" life reasonably well. He's nursing like a champ, and everyone is doting on him (and me!). We're so pleased to have him here with us to hold finally!