Thomas- A Much Awaited Story

   

#4

(Thomas at 2 months)

     Although we were aware that 3 kiddos under 2 would be a lot of work, we had a few surprises in store.  We decided that 22-24 months would be a bit more ideal this time around for our next baby. In May and June of 2012 we had wedding after wedding after wedding...literally.  First it was my brother John-Paul and his new wife Alita who were married at the end of May.  Micah's brother Andrew and his wife Alexandra were married June 3rd, and then Micah's cousin Connie and her husband Steven were married middle of June, just a couple weeks later.  Elizabeth was asked to be the flower girl in Andrew's wedding, I was asked to run the guestbook at my brother's wedding, and we made a second trip out of town for Connie's wedding later that month.  Micah and I decided that it would be most ideal for me NOT to be pregnant during that time, but we knew it was up to the Lord.
     There were a couple of months where we wondered if the Lord would bless us with another baby as quickly as he did the first two times, but sure enough by the beginning of August 2012 the pregnancy test confirmed that sure enough, Repke baby #4 was on his way!
     This time I decided that I would hide the pregnancy test in my purse and tell Micah when he came home from work that there was a surprise in my purse for him.  It was quite comical to watch him handle everything in my purse a multiple times before he finally said, "Is this a pregnancy test?"
     "Yes!" I laughed.  Even though this was the 3rd time around we were just about as giddy as we had been with the two previous big announcements!

Spreading the News

(The whole family photographed together for the first time, at least Thomas was "looking")

     Although we understand other couples' reasoning, Micah and I have never been much for waiting a  lengthy amount of time to announce a pregnancy.  We agree that it is best when you can, to share the big news as soon as possible so that the Body of Christ can be praying for you and the baby.  With the first two pregnancies we waited to announce until after the first prenatal.  This time we announced the news to family and friends within the first few days.  We'll just say that it was maybe because were were "pros" by this point- haha!

     I called my mom on a Saturday morning to let my parents know they were expecting their 6th grand baby.  Mom told me that they were garage saling and that she was waiting in the car for my dad.  I went ahead and hit her with "it."

     "Guess what!  We're pregnant!"

     Silence...

     "Mom, did you hear me?"  I asked.

     "Oh yeah, I'm just scrapping myself off the pavement here!  Len, Jo's pregnant!"  Mom called to my dad as he was shopping.

     Later I told my brother.  His response?  "You guys are crazy..."  Thankfully his sweet wife of just a few months came on the line not too long later making up for her dear hubby and said, "I know JP said you were crazy, but I'm sure he'll say that every time he hears that you're pregnant.  Congratulations!"

     Micah told his family one night while we were at the Repke farm.  He had Martin walk around to each of the family members putting his hand on their head.  He told him to say, "Bless Aunt Ann," "Bless Aunt Liesl," "Bless Grandma," etc.  When Martin got to me Micah told him to say, "And God bless mommy and all other pregnant mommies."  Grandpa Repke was napping when we made the announcement.  When he came out we made him guess which one of his daughter in laws was pregnant.  If my memory serves me right he did guess correctly (within just a couple short months both of his Illinois daughter in laws were pregnant!)

     

Getting Bigger and Bigger

(The whole family with Thomas at 38 weeks gestation)

     At my first prenatal we found out that again it was one baby that we would be expecting April 10, 2013.  We talked to the doctor about our desire to VBAC.  We were well aware of the risks of having a natural birth after a cesarean, but we also knew that the risks of multiple surgeries were just as scary if not scarier.  We talked about how it would be best to begin doing everything that we could to get natural labor started as early as 34 weeks.  It was obvious that since I had never contracted, dilated, or softened with either of my previous pregnancies that I would need to make specific efforts to avoid another CSection.  I felt like we had a good plan of action, but I couldn't help but think that with each of our pregnancies we thought we had the needed information to have a natural birth.  It made me wonder if there was again something that we didn't know that would prevent a successful VBAC.  I knew I had to trust the Lord, but sometimes (most of the time) that's easier said than done.  We decided that the baby's in utero would be Squirt.  We wanted him to "squirt" on out!

     Along with the dull nausea (rarely throwing up, but just feeling gross most of the time) in my first trimester, I was a lot more moody with this pregnancy than my previous ones.  I was able to avoid throwing my back out this time by regularly going to my chiropractor.  I felt very blessed that as members of Samaritan Ministries 25 chiropractic visits were paid for by other members with our pregnancy need.  I am convinced that without the proper chiropractic care I would have had much more pain this pregnancy.
     We found out in January that Samaritan board members had also decided to begin publishing ("taking care of") doula bills.  This was great news!  We could now hire a professional doula to help with our plans for a natural birth.  It took me awhile to get around to calling doulas that Dr. Kindred's midwife, Mary Tisdale had suggested.  I think I probably felt overwhelmed and didn't want to make the wrong decision.  After calling several doulas we were leaning towards Malory Teegarden.  She was highly recommended by Mary and by another friend of mine who had hired her for her own birth.  I waited several weeks to hear back from the other highly recommended doula, but never did hear back (she did call a couple weeks before Thomas was born to apologize for the delay).  It was amazing how the Lord worked to clearly show us that Malory was the doula for us.
     As 34 weeks came closer and closer, I became more nervous about the "deadline" approaching.  It was obvious that we'd either have another surgery or we'd have the natural birth that we'd been waiting so long for...I wasn't going to be pregnant forever (thankfully).  At one of my doula appointments with Malory she gave me a list of 40 different things that could be done to bring on natural labor.  40! So far I had only heard of 4 or 5 things I could do.  This was both exciting...and daunting.  I mean eating tons of pineapple sounded great! But with all of the different teas, supplements, exercises, etc. that it mentioned how would I know if I was doing enough every day.  I trusted the Lord that He would guide my daily activities and committed to diligently being mindful to drink my teas and swallow all my pills.
     Week 34 passed, then week 35, and then 36.  So far no contractions and so far no softening of my cervix.  When I went in for my 37 week prenatal I wasn't sure the story would be much different.  After checking me, Dr. Kindred's expression was the same as always.
     "Not a lot of progress.  You are nubbing.  And only half way softened."
     "My cervix is softening? Great!" Since it never had before!
     At my 38 week appointment Dr. Kindred sounded slightly more enthused.  Well you're all the way softened and maybe dilated a half inch but that's it."
    "Wait? Dialated a half inch?"  This sounded like wonderful news to the lady who's never ever been dilated and yet pregnant with her forth child.
     "Sure, but that's basically nothing," the doctor informed me.
     "Well I'm deciding that's good news!"

Contractions? Oh yeah!

(Thomas just a few days old)

     I remember distinctly standing in front of my kitchen sink, finishing up some dishes and thinking to myself. You know I'm not contracting now, is there really any reason to think that I will?  I never have before.  Immediately the Lord brought Scripture to mind.  You know he is the one who turns kings' hearts and He controls all things, for goodness sake, sending me some contractions is all in His power and His timing.  If it's His will...it WILL happen.

     I woke up the Monday morning after my 38 week prenatal at around 3am.  I felt like I had to use the restroom REALLY bad.  After using the restroom 3 times in the course of a half hour with no "progress", I thought, hmmm...could this be contractions?  I decided to wait it out in bed if I felt the need to use the restroom again, and hope for the best.  Sure enough the feeling passed on it's own and I felt normal again.  I had an acupuncture appointment that morning and by the time I was ready to leave the house, I was fairly convinced that these were contractions. I called my doula Malory as I was on the road to Morton.  

     "Hey!  I think I've actually got some real contractions here."

     "Oh good," Malory's groggy voice reminded me that I was calling around 7am, oops!

     I asked her if she thought that I should drive out to Morton for my appointment.  She told me that it wouldn't be a bad idea since my contractions weren't coming that frequently, but that if I could reschedule for the afternoon if my contractions tapered off that that might be better. Acupuncture is supposed to get contractions going and since mine were obviously "going" maybe a later appointment would be better.

     As it turned out sure enough the contractions did slow down, so I set up that acupuncture appointment.  The contractions did pick up a little bit that evening after my appointment, and by Tuesday morning I was asking Micah to stay home with me.  Mom Repke came to pick up our three little ones so that we could get ready if this was the real deal.  Malory had told me to try to be too active incase labor picked up and I wouldn't be able to get any sleep.  I did my best to rest and work on small projects.

     My acupuncture appointment that day was set for the late afternoon.  By this point the contractions were really picking up.  People would ask us how far apart they were, but I was finding it hard to tell and I was obviously not all that good at keeping track.  After the appointment I went to the restroom, with delicious Chinese dinner on the brain since my hubby had thought it might help.  In the restroom I discovered that a reasonable amount of "bright red" discharge had occurred.  I began quietly panicking.  I had been told that one of the biggest signs of trouble with a VBAC is "bright red bleeding."  This can mean a uterine rupture.  I went out to the lobby paid for my appointment and then quietly told Micah what was going on.   As soon as we got in the car we called Malory.  She thought that it might be something called "show," the mucus discharge that would mean that I was dilating.  

     We went out to Malory's house to have her examine the situation.  She reassured me that the discharge was not actually blood but was mucus.  This was a big relief.  We weren't really wanting to run into the hospital just yet.  But Malory did tell us that my contractions were obviously productive ones and that she wouldn't be surprised if I called her in a few hours with active labor.

     I went to bed that night (no Chinese...it was too late...bummer), and then woke up in the morning having had far fewer contractions than before.  Micah went back to work and the rest of the day progressed more slowly.  The kids came back on Thursday, and Mom Repke stayed with us to help me to get ready for the birth.  Thursday was another slow day, but by Friday morning I was beginning to have more consistent contractions.  

     My 39 week prenatal was set for noon.  I told Dr. Kindred that this week had been MUCH different than previous weeks.  When he checked me his expression was much more impressive.

     "Well you are 100% effaced and maybe dilated to a 3 or 4.  I'm sure I'll be seeing you again tonight!"

     I was SO thrilled, "Now I do have a chiropractic appointment this afternoon, is it ok to go to it?"

     "Where is it?" he asked.

     "Morton."
     Dr. Kindred looked thoughtful, "You know I think it would be better to stay closer to home.  Even a few bumps in the car could put you into active labor."

     I had asked my friend Debbie to come along with me to the chiropractor earlier that day, so that someone would be there if labor picked up.  I called her up after the appointment and told her that the chiropractor was off.  I then called Malory to tell her the news.

     "You need to go to that chiropractor appointment!  If it was me I would."

     "Well that's what I had thought since this is likely the last time I have to get adjusted before the birth.  With my bad back I was disappointed not to go," I shared.

     Again Malory told me that she strongly suggested going.  So I called Debbie up, "We're back on!"

     When we got to the chiropractor's office I gave Debbie "strict" instructions not to tell anyone that we really weren't supposed to be there.  She was a trooper and hung out in the lobby while I had my treatment.  By the time we were getting back in the car contractions were around 4 minutes apart. I had wanted to go to Aldi to pick up some essentials for the next day in case we were in the hospital.  I had also hoped that the walk around the store would move things quicker.  

     "Are you sure you don't want me to just go in for you?" Debbie asked.

     "Well give me a minute out here, go ahead and pick up my stuff, but I think I'll be in anyways."

     Sure enough I got the strength to head in.  We had a few strange stares, and some concerned strangers, but I was convinced that if I didn't walk around Aldi that I'd likely regret it if baby Squirt wasn't born that night.  Later I found out that the walk around Aldi was probably not necessary at all, better safe than sorry though!

     By the time we got home the contractions were coming more like 3-4 minutes apart.  I was really moving into active labor, but wasn't convinced at the time since I wasn't sure that my Tuesday experience had been much different.  We texted Malory about the contraction span.  When Micah got home a little after 5pm, he helped me up to the bath tub.  I figured that a good soak would really help with the painful contractions.  Micah pulled his Bible out to begin reading passages of Scripture.  

     But before he could even start I heard him say, "Oh what's that?"

     I looked down and saw that there had been a very large gush of bright red bleeding in the water.  Micah immediately called Malory who was already on her way to our house.  When she got there she told me that there was a lot more discharge than she would like to see and that it would be best to go into the hospital.  I began to get really concerned.  I knew that I felt fine (other than the steady contractions)  I had no strange pains.  It made me wonder if everything was ok with the baby.  I also began wrapping my mind around the idea that if I had had a rupture that a surgery would be in my near future.  I tried not to think about it.  

     By the time we got to the hospital I could tell that the bleeding was continuing.  They hurried me off to a triage room.  They began monitoring the baby and checking my cervix.  Praise the Lord, baby Squirt was doing just fine!  I overheard the nurse say that there didn't seem to be anything wrong with my uterus. Woot!

     Not long after they told me that they were taking me to the delivery room.   This whole natural birth thing was becoming more of a reality!  Mom Repke was able to come and help with the delivery since my friend Debbie had agreed to watch our three bigger ones.  When it came time to push I was a nervous.  This had always sounded like the hardest part.  Thankfully it was only about a half hour of pushing before, squirt, plunk!  There he was, "It's a boy!" Micah told me!  So at 9:09pm Thomas Winston Repke was born weighing in at 7lb 0.2oz.

     It was so wonderful to feel all parts of my body at work in delivering my brand new baby boy!  Thomas took to nursing right away.  I realized that I was not feeling "great," maybe a little "woozy."  I did lose a lot of blood, almost twice as much as during a typical delivery.  When I got up to use the restroom later on I passed out.  Thankfully the nurse was right there and the next thing I knew there were 5 or 6 other nurses rubbing my arms and legs to get the blood moving again. After I passed out and then woke up again I felt MUCH better.  Micah says maybe I just needed a 45 second power nap! 

     Ever since Thomas was born, whenever I'm feeling discouraged for any reason at all I try to remember how completely awesome it was to see God's hand at work in our lives.  After we hadn't been able to have a VBAC with Lizzie, I told myself that this just might be one of those instances in life where you can turn around and bless someone else through your experience.  It feels so great to be able to say that with God ALL things are possible, including beating the multiple CSection odds!  Praise the Lord!

Thomas turns 2 months old at 9:09pm tonight!  He is a healthy baby boy who's just now getting excited about smiling and rolling from tummy to back!

With God ALL Things Are Possible!

(The whole family with Thomas, less than 24 hours old.)