Gwen's Birth Story: Breaking the Mold, Part 2

On the evening of Sept. 14 we tucked all the kids in bed around 8pm. 

I finished folding a load of laundry and then laid down in bed. I opened the book I was reading: Hail Holy Queen by Scott Hahn and got swept up in the narrative. I realized it was getting late, so I figured I would finish the chapter and turn out the light. My pregnant belly was so large I couldn't quite reach the bedside table while lying down. So I rolled out of bed and stood up. At that moment my water broke. 

These were the last words I read: 

It was 10:45pm. All the kids were sleeping soundly and tomorrow was a school day. My first instinct was to let the kids sleep in their own beds and have our friends come stay at home with them. Our home birth supplies were still packed from our hurricane evacuation a few weeks prior. Matt and I could simply put the supplies in the car and head over to an empty retreat cabin. 

Matt called our friends and the midwife to fill them in on the new plan. Our friends arrived shortly after 11pm and we set them up with blankets to sleep on the couches. The contractions were becoming stronger, so it was time to head to a cabin. 

We drove across the Stillwater property and pulled up next to cabin #4. Matt unloaded the car and unpacked the birth supplies while I started pacing around the cabin. The retreat cabins are clean and simple: five sets of bunkbeds and two sinks are in the main area, plus a bathroom with two toilets and two showers. The only decoration is a wooden crucifix on a wall.  

My contractions were getting closer and more intense. Matt updated the midwife and she said she was on her way. While we waited for her to arrive, we started praying the rosary.  It was technically still Monday, so we prayed the Joyful Mysteries: The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation and Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple.

Remember how all my previous births were at a hospital and all my labors were fast and furious? 

This labor was different. 

It was as if I could hear the Lord whispering in my heart:

There's no need to rush. Let this be gentle. 

Yes the contractions were intense, but I was standing and breathing through them. 

Between contractions I felt completely at peace and could rest fully without any anxiety at all. 

I wasn't in a hospital. I wasn't even in my home. 

I was in a cabin with only my husband.

We were praying together.

Our baby was coming soon! 

Just after 1am my midwife arrived. She quietly unpacked her birthing supplies while I continued pacing and swaying. Both Matt and I were relieved she was there with us. We couldn't wait to see our baby girl face to face. 

At 2:25am on Sept. 15th, our daughter was born. 

Matt held her first. Once I got settled on a mattress on the floor, Matt passed her into my arms. There is no sweeter reward for the hard work of labor than holding my child for the first time. 

The midwife left us at 5am. Matt was fast asleep on a bunk. I was nursing our newborn daughter. We hadn't yet decided on her name. Several months back Matt had said in jest, we could call her "Our Lady." It became a running joke for the rest of the pregnancy. 

She was due to arrive on Mary's birthday, Sept.8, but was born on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Blessed Mother has many titles, but this is one I wasn't familiar with. What did it mean?

On my Facebook newsfeed, a local parish shared this prayer:

God, grant us the patience to live as Our Lady of Sorrows did, a perfect model of hope at the foot of the cross. Thank you for providing us such a profound example of love and acceptance of your will. We don’t have to bear our daily crosses alone, for you have given us your son, Jesus Christ, and his mother, Mary, to help us find our way. 

- Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C.  

We've had a devotion to Our Blessed Mother for several years. Her powerful intercession has moved mountains for those we know and our own family on several occasions, including when we were waiting to join Family Missions Company. Without a doubt Our Lady was interceding for us in a mighty way during this serene birth. So I thought Regina, meaning queen in Latin and one of Mary's titles, would be a fitting middle name for our newest daughter.

Now what about her first name, Gwendolyn?

Back in June we were struggling with coming up with girl names that we all agreed on. So we asked friends for suggestions. One evening we got a text with 31 girl names! There were a few names on that list we began pondering. We figured once she was born we would look at her and instantly know. Well it didn't happen quite that fast, but a few hours after she was born both Matt and I agreed Gwendolyn seemed right.

Our little Gwen broke the mold on many levels: 

Her labor was short, but gentle. 

She was born in a cabin, not at the hospital. 

And she was named in honor of Our Blessed Mother, rather than a biological family member. 

Praise God she is finally here!