Tessa Lynn's Birth Story
Tessa Lynn Cable was born on Tuesday, October 31st at her home in the presence of only God and myself. Tessa has been an amazing surprise from the first day we knew she was joining our family to the day she came into this world.
I woke up Tuesday morning, the 31st, at 6:00am and found myself having some contractions, but nothing serious and nothing consistent. I sent Luke to work with the warning that I might need him later but nothing seemed to be happening very quickly yet. So, Emma, Megan, and I spent a usual day. We ate, got baths, played dolls and I found myself trying to play with the girls while timing my contractions that still seemed to be ranging from 7 minutes apart to 15 minutes apart. This “labor” was nothing like my other 2 girls so I kept thinking we were hours away even though I was starting to have to breathe through a few of the contractions. Megan kept asking me what I was trying to blow out =)
I called my midwife, Karen, at noon and told her the contractions had become fairly consistent at 7 minutes apart starting at 11:00, but was still hesitant to think things were really gearing up. I told her I was going to put the girls down for a nap and rest with them to see if the contractions continued. I lay with the girls until Megan was asleep and felt a fairly heavy contraction so I got up and told Emma to stay in her bed and rest (she hasn’t been napping much lately). I went into the bedroom and decided to call Luke. Our conversation was short with the only words being, “Come home now.” I called Karen and asked her to come as well as my mom who would be attending the birth. Those are the only calls I seemed to be able to make. I threw the sheets off the bed and put 2 towels in their place. Then, I walked into bathroom (which is in our room) to use the restroom and felt as if I needed to push. I stood there, a bit in disbelief, telling Tessa to just wait until daddy got there. I walked back to our bed to sit and breathe but as I sat down, my water broke (thank goodness I had put the towels on the bed =). With my previous labors, I had about 2 hours left of labor after my water broke.
Tessa still had one more surprise! She was coming and she wasn’t going to wait for anyone. After my water broke, I stood up, walked into the bathroom and felt the need to push. I put my hand down, looked in the mirror and felt Tessa’s head. With one more push, she was here in my arms, curled in a purple ball. I stared at this amazing little one and prayed for a cry (as well as for help to come soon). Tessa let out a cry and I knew she was breathing, so I grabbed a towel and went to lie on the bed with her skin touching mine to keep her as warm as I could until help could arrive. I kept talking to her to let her know I was there and that I loved her. Luke walked through the bedroom door about 5 minutes after Tessa was born and all I could say was, “She’s here, I’m sorry we couldn’t wait for you.” Luke told me it took him a few minutes to register what I was saying because all he could see was me and a towel…until he walked closer and saw Tessa’s head. He immediately called our midwife and she told him to get ready to deliver the placenta if I had another contraction. He threw off his work shirt and sat beside me as I heard my mom come to the door. She, too, was in shock! We sent her to make sure the bigger girls really were sleeping and they were…a truly amazing miracle that they napped while their baby sister was being born. Our midwife arrived shortly after this (in her costume =) and our friend, Shanelle, was right at her heels. The two came into the room and here is where I don’t remember much, other than the relief of knowing Tessa and I were no longer alone. Our midwife delivered the placenta and checked Tessa and I out. Truly miraculously, Tessa and I were doing just fine. Someone asked me if she really was a girl and I had no idea, the thought to look hadn’t crossed my mind. I just wanted to get her warm and safe.
That is our amazing, miraculous story. I am still in awe of God who created this beautiful, strong little girl. She knew just what to do and when she needed to come, our bodies worked to create a beautiful story together. What a special bond this little one and I share!
I woke up Tuesday morning, the 31st, at 6:00am and found myself having some contractions, but nothing serious and nothing consistent. I sent Luke to work with the warning that I might need him later but nothing seemed to be happening very quickly yet. So, Emma, Megan, and I spent a usual day. We ate, got baths, played dolls and I found myself trying to play with the girls while timing my contractions that still seemed to be ranging from 7 minutes apart to 15 minutes apart. This “labor” was nothing like my other 2 girls so I kept thinking we were hours away even though I was starting to have to breathe through a few of the contractions. Megan kept asking me what I was trying to blow out =)
I called my midwife, Karen, at noon and told her the contractions had become fairly consistent at 7 minutes apart starting at 11:00, but was still hesitant to think things were really gearing up. I told her I was going to put the girls down for a nap and rest with them to see if the contractions continued. I lay with the girls until Megan was asleep and felt a fairly heavy contraction so I got up and told Emma to stay in her bed and rest (she hasn’t been napping much lately). I went into the bedroom and decided to call Luke. Our conversation was short with the only words being, “Come home now.” I called Karen and asked her to come as well as my mom who would be attending the birth. Those are the only calls I seemed to be able to make. I threw the sheets off the bed and put 2 towels in their place. Then, I walked into bathroom (which is in our room) to use the restroom and felt as if I needed to push. I stood there, a bit in disbelief, telling Tessa to just wait until daddy got there. I walked back to our bed to sit and breathe but as I sat down, my water broke (thank goodness I had put the towels on the bed =). With my previous labors, I had about 2 hours left of labor after my water broke.
Tessa still had one more surprise! She was coming and she wasn’t going to wait for anyone. After my water broke, I stood up, walked into the bathroom and felt the need to push. I put my hand down, looked in the mirror and felt Tessa’s head. With one more push, she was here in my arms, curled in a purple ball. I stared at this amazing little one and prayed for a cry (as well as for help to come soon). Tessa let out a cry and I knew she was breathing, so I grabbed a towel and went to lie on the bed with her skin touching mine to keep her as warm as I could until help could arrive. I kept talking to her to let her know I was there and that I loved her. Luke walked through the bedroom door about 5 minutes after Tessa was born and all I could say was, “She’s here, I’m sorry we couldn’t wait for you.” Luke told me it took him a few minutes to register what I was saying because all he could see was me and a towel…until he walked closer and saw Tessa’s head. He immediately called our midwife and she told him to get ready to deliver the placenta if I had another contraction. He threw off his work shirt and sat beside me as I heard my mom come to the door. She, too, was in shock! We sent her to make sure the bigger girls really were sleeping and they were…a truly amazing miracle that they napped while their baby sister was being born. Our midwife arrived shortly after this (in her costume =) and our friend, Shanelle, was right at her heels. The two came into the room and here is where I don’t remember much, other than the relief of knowing Tessa and I were no longer alone. Our midwife delivered the placenta and checked Tessa and I out. Truly miraculously, Tessa and I were doing just fine. Someone asked me if she really was a girl and I had no idea, the thought to look hadn’t crossed my mind. I just wanted to get her warm and safe.
That is our amazing, miraculous story. I am still in awe of God who created this beautiful, strong little girl. She knew just what to do and when she needed to come, our bodies worked to create a beautiful story together. What a special bond this little one and I share!
