More from the Early Years

Amazonian Wednesdays 🌴

December 2003
Reflections on the birth of Ester
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At exactly this time last year*, I was hopping up and down with excitement, as I had just taken a home pregnancy test which confirmed my suspicion and hopes. I had planned on waiting until the 25th to tell the family, but could not hold it in for a few more days. Telling both sets of parents that they are soon going to have their first grandchild, and all the siblings that they will soon meet their first niece was fun indeed!

The Lord blessed me with a joyful, easy pregnancy, with no morning sickness, back pain, insomnia, or any other discomfort. I read a book called Supernatural Childbirth that spoke of the promise of being free from the curse in Jesus, including the Genesis curse of pain in child birth. I was praying and believing for a pain-free labor and delivery, without the use of anesthetic. I spent a lot of time thinking, meditating, and praying about this, as it meant a lot to me.

The big day did not go quite the way I was expecting. In the last two weeks before Ester was born, my blood pressure started going up. On August 20th, the doctor decided to induce me because my uric acid level was up, indicating that my kidneys were under strain. He also ordered an epidural, deeming it necessary to bring my blood pressure down.

Upon hearing his pronouncements, I began to cry! I had my heart so set on not having an epidural or anything unnatural (and I’m sure the major hormone upheaval going on in my body had something to do with it!) My wonderful mother was there to comfort me back to calm, and 6 1/2 hours later, my beautiful daughter was born. She is a very joyful baby, and a hundred times more amazing than I had even imagined!

At first, the enemy whispered accusation in my ear that I had failed and my faith was weak. But our precious Comforter immediately encouraged me, reminding me that Jesus is the Author and Perfector of my faith, and letting me know that He was in control. In the end, Ester was born healthy and robust, which is by far the most important thing! In spite of that day not going as planned, I will savor its memory forever. What about next time around? I am believing, with all my heart, for a pain-free, complication-free pregnancy, labor and delivery!

*Referring to December 2002

P.S. I did experience pain-free labor with my subsequent three children!