Supernatural and Pain-Free Birth Story: Backstory

Sitting here a little over two years after my first birth story, I couldn't be more excited to share my second birth story. This birth was so incredibly different than my first and was such a redemptive story demonstrating God's goodness, faithfulness, and comfort during what is typically a nerve-wracking moment.

Just a short back story: if you haven't read my first birth story, you can find that in this blog post here. I don't want to say that it was "traumatic" but I will admit that I definitely was fearful during the process, didn't know what to expect, and everything happened so quickly that I felt like I couldn't even pray, focus on my breathing, or think about anything other than how scared I was to push my baby out. While it was only about two hours of labor and 45 min once I got to the birthing center before delivering Noah, it was not what I would call a peace-filled birth story.

But that was the first birth story and now on to the next. I am so grateful I get to share this birth story with you all. I prayed so hard that this birth would bring glory to God and to share the power of prayer, faithfulness, and trust in God.

During my pregnancy, I read the book Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize and when I tell you that it changed my life, I am not exaggerating. It challenged me in my faith (in the best way possible) and made me really wrestle with how much I actually trust God versus how much I think I trust God. I battled knowing in my mind what God is capable of but not truly believing that I could be a recipient of miracles. As I read my Bible I think "wow, God is capable of so much--raising people from death, restoring sight, miraculous healing of all sorts, parting seas, etc" but for some reason it was so hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that He can and is still performing that level of miracles today. And even harder for me to realize that I could be a recipient of those types of miracles, like a pain-free birth.

The book contains a lot of Scriptures that I vigorously prayed over myself and baby during pregnancy and over my delivery. I had a journal that I wrote very specific prayers about what I wanted for my birth and what I believed God would do and it's crazy to look back now and see how he answered those prayers! God is so gracious!

As I began writing down those specific prayers, I asked my husband West if he would be in agreement with me in praying for a pain-free, supernatural birth and to believe with me that it could and would be possible for me. In the Bible it is written, "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them" (Matthew 18:19-20). There is power when we agree with people in prayer and I am grateful that West stood by me in this process.

I share all of this backstory so that you know that it wasn't just a little prayer, wishful thinking, or positive vibes that I had for my birth story. It was months and months of pleading with God to help strengthen my faith in Him and training myself to speak life over my pregnancy/labor/delivery and to cover myself in God's protection. It isn't something that happened overnight but with each day that I read Scripture out loud and prayed my specific prayers, I could tell that God was renewing my mind and covering me with His peace. Children are a gift from God and I believed that He has a better way and plan for my birth and delivery (better than what I had experienced during my first birth), as I bring one of His children into the world--not something involving fear or pain. I feel so blessed to have experienced that type of supernatural birth this time!

Stay tuned for the actual birth story that I will be posting!

(This is the book I referenced that I read during my pregnancy)