Stop and Go

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Margaret

What causes a woman to begin the process of laboring so strongly she can actually bring a baby into this world? The medical profession has a number of theories, none of which is scientifically conclusive, but all of them offer the same bottom line answer: no one knows.

Obstetric nurses will tell you women go into labor when there’s a full moon or a change in barometric pressure. Others might say it’s electrical storms, tornadoes, or hurricanes. A few insist labor begins when stars and planets align in a certain way.

But what do you do if everything within you longs to go into labor but you don’t? Self-help web sites offer all kinds of “natural” suggestions from castor oil to spicy foods to acupuncture, but results are mixed.

My favorite theory is the one that says labor is initiated by the baby herself. Science is speculating that maybe her adrenal gland releases cortisone, causing the placenta to convert estrogen to progesterone, which then produces prostiglandins, which cause the uterus to begin contracting.

If this theory is the correct one, it’s no wonder doctors can’t predict when labor will start. But even if that daisy chain of hormonal events is what triggers it, the baby probably can’t willfully signal her own adrenal gland to start the action. So, what or who does?

Of course it’s God.

I firmly believe he is present with his breath of life at every conception, and once a created being “gets started,” Scripture says it’s Jesus who holds it all together. Because of that, it seems logical the Trinity would be present and involved in the labor directive, “Now’s the time.”

Of course doctors can insist a birth take place by administering drugs, but often the woman’s body (and the baby) resist being rushed, making that known by increasing a mother’s suffering and pain through the labor process.

Contractions and their statistics (length and spacing) have been the conversational theme at our house since yesterday when we were sent home from the hospital with instructions not to return until pains were closer. So Birgitta had a 2^nd night of misery, to which Louisa and I said, “Oh, that’s wonderful!” referring to her progress.

But the new day brought a new wrinkle: Labor stopped. Then hours later, it resumed. Then later stopped. And as I’m writing this, it has once again resumed.

Anticipation builds as Birgitta goes into her 3^rd miserable night, and a verse from Ecclesiastes is looping in my brain: “God has made everything beautiful in its time.” (v. 11)

And it just isn’t time.

A Painful Wait

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Margaret

The Garden of Eden has been on my mind today, especially the moment God told Eve her blatant disobedience would result in pain during childbirth. (Genesis 3:16) She wasn’t a mother and didn’t know what childbirth was, let alone a child, but she knew that whatever it was, it wouldn’t be good. She also didn’t know what intensity of pain God was talking about since she’d never experienced pain of any kind, but during her moments of discipline, she knew upcoming days would include some hardship.

Eve went on to bear many children in pain, and last night Birgitta got her first taste of what God meant. Painful labor contractions began while we sat at a birthday dinner for Lars in Chicago’s Loop. Mary and Bervin were hosting a meal for 12 at their condo, and immediately after Lars blew out his candles, we announced, “Birgitta’s in labor!”

Without thinking, every one of the guests rose to their feet simultaneously, an impulsive response to significant news. Old and young, male and female, we all know bearing babies is a really big deal. As we encircled Birgitta, her Uncle Bervin blessed her through a beautiful prayer, making sure to cover our newest family member, the little someone at the center of the birthing drama.

And then off we went to Michigan, a caravan of 3 cars: ours in the lead, Mary following (just in case we had roadside drama), Louisa and cousin Stina after that. My Highlander was already equipped with “a birthing kit” that included blankets (both baby’s and mama’s), towels, wipes, scissors, latex gloves, a flashlight, string, and a bulb syringe. RFA! *

Birgitta, valiantly breathing through frequent contractions, said, “I guess we should practice some of those breathing techniques we learned.”

“Yeah,” I said, “but I can’t remember! What were they?”

She reminded me, and I said, “I sure hope you can coach me through all this ok.”

Wanting to go home before the hospital to grab our overnight bags and to tend to Jack, the 3 cars gathered at the cottage. But just after we’d called the doctor and loaded the car, Birgitta’s labor began calming. Hospital personnel said, “Not just yet.” And so we waited. Through the night.

By morning, though, the pains were more regular, so off we went. But wishing doesn’t make it so. After hanging around the hospital for several hours without significant progress, the doctor suggested we head for home where Birgitta could continue laboring more comfortably. And so after 24 hours of excitement, today ends much as it began, with Birgitta laboring like a champion and the rest of us practicing patience.

I think Eve would be proud of my daughter’s courageous approach to “bringing forth children in pain.” And I know that the moment Birgitta meets her baby daughter, the whole drama will have been worth every single contraction.

“The earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)

*Ready For Anything!

Fizz

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Margaret

When I last visited my British grandchildren, they had just added a new family member: Fizz the cat.

She was a pretty kitty with a good deal of patience toward her 3 pint-sized owners. Less than 6 months old, Fizz was still trying to learn household rules and which of her opinions was appreciated, which ones not. Like all kittens, she was curious. One moment she was in the dryer, the next she was running up the curtains.

Late one night as the household slept and I blogged, Fizz expressed keen interest in my laptop. As a matter of fact, she dove at the screen with the force of a bird flying into a windshield. It took me by surprise, and I wondered what had prompted her.

Then I saw it. As my mouse moved the tiny cursor around the screen, she had mistaken it for a big juicy bug, and by instinct went for it. Once I understood that, I let her do it again and again, and she never gave up trying to bag that “bug”.

Feline curiosity is fun to watch. Fizz could get into trouble (think tumbling in a dryer) but generally her curiosity will teach her what she can and can’t do. We could take a lesson.

As children, most of us were as curious as any kitten, pursuing answers to our questions through trial and error. Like Fizz, we sometimes got into trouble, but trouble was a good teacher. As we get older, the edges of our curiosity get worn down, and we walk through life based on what we already know rather than questing after something fresh.

But resurrecting some of that kitty-like curiosity might be a good idea, especially when it comes to living the Christian life. God has lots of fresh blessings for us every day, some of which we don’t experience because we aren’t curious about what they might be and don’t go searching for them. Scripture hints at “new mercy” and “new compassion,” available every single morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

God also says he’s willing to bring a “new song” to us (Psalm 40:3) and put “new spirits and hearts” within us. (Ezekiel 36:26) He offers “new answers” to our prayers (Jeremiah 33:3) and the promise of a “new life” in Christ (Romans 6:4), even a whole “new self.” (Ephesians 4:24) Amazingly, the Lord volunteers to share “new hidden things” that he’d formerly kept secret. (Isaiah 48:6)

A healthy curiosity for the fresh blessings God wants to give should make us leap toward him and his Word with the same fervor Fizz showed toward my moving cursor.