Niall Aaro’s birth story

24 hours before meeting Niall

During afternoon chores on the 5th, I was feeling a little crampy, nothing to stop me but my attention was caught on how I just didn’t feel like doing them because I felt different, like my body was taking me to slow motion handling mode. I wrote Isaiah 12 on a piece of paper and let the kiddos make dinner, roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions, green beans and seared chicken. They did great and it was amazing! We put all the kiddos down around 2030, though I kept getting confused about Drew's intent to read aloud while I put Oren down; I think my brain was set on getting to bed.

When I laid down, very occasional contractions would keep me from settling altogether. I got up a few times to see if frequency or intensity would increase, but they didn’t so I figured it was prodromal, like I’d experienced a couple weeks before Oren was born. I was up and down a few times, and didn’t note anything that made me confident in thinking labor. I did, however, figure that since I kept waking up, I should probably catch up on all the dirty cloth and towel laundry, both because we had none and because if I DID have a baby, we needed the washer available.

I stretched and prayed by the wood stove, got it going again because it had only burned up the poplar; the hickory was still sitting there. Blowing into the fire, I contemplated similarities between labor and fire, and the role of breath for expansion and fullness and all the spiritual meaning within that.

Around midnight I downloaded a timer, because I couldn’t tell if I had a pattern or not when I was coming and going from bed, trying to discern whether to stay up or not. Once I tracked a few, I found they were about 1 min long and 5 min apart on average and required attentive breathing, so I felt pretty good then, about staying up to do the work, giving thanks that I could receive this time in quiet.

About 1 am I ran a bath, and rode several waves while praising, worshiping Yah in the form of various Psalms that came to mind. I think I stayed about an hour, intervals were about 2 min, length between 40 seconds and 2 min. That is when I decided timing wasn’t important like focus, and I got out, set up a pad and towel on the dining room floor between the table and kitchen island, and knelt, supporting my arms and forehead on the bench, with a receiving blanket as padding. I stayed, listening to Scripture (Psalm 40, 41 & 34), about 30-40 min, then after feeling for progress (Since Oren had come so fast, I didn’t want to wait too long and have Drew miss a birth!) I decided to wake up Drew. He prayed over us, and when he went to see how the wood stove was doing, we both saw a shadow in the living room and heard some sounds. I thought I saw something fly, but I figured I was mistaken. Drew says “there is a bat in here.” I say “Are you serious? I thought I saw something…” So he proceeded to try to herd it out the back door (which brought in a bit of a chill). I stayed as low to the floor as I could, because I very much did not want to be hit in the face by a live bat. The next attempt was to catch it in a box, which also failed. Finally he was able to scare it into the foyer, after which he walked out another door to go around and release it, not wanting to risk allowing it back in! I was thankful that it was gone and rather astonished, remarked at what a peculiar event that was for a labor story. 

After a time, Drew did a little counter pressure since there was a bit of fire in the hips. He folded the laundry I’d started, kept the wood stove going and turned up the thermostat. I was glad for his presence, and I believe about an hour later (4am) is about when transition came because I got sleepy and shivery. He laid beside me and held my hand, both of us dozing—so much like Laurel’s story! The intervals were longer now and as I rested on the floor, Drew covered me with a blanket. We decided that Arden, Thayer and Laurel could witness if they wanted. About 5 am, I felt that there was very little time before FER might take over (having Oren taught me this might go fast) so I had Drew go get the kiddos. During this time, I applied the herbal oil to my perineum to allow for easier stretching and reduced bruising. 

They sleepily came in and quietly sat together on the couch. Thayer asked if he could get closer to the wood stove because Laurel was hoarding all the blankets (she had no pajamas on, only unders!😂). I told him of course, he could sit in the rocker! Drew gave Arden my phone so she could video. I kept feeling a thick bit of cervix in the front that I decided to press up and see if it would crest the head, inviting more movement downward. This always triggered a contraction. I did not experience the same crazy FER as with the last few, it was there but it seemed less overpowering and more like a yoke I was partnered with for Help. I told the kiddos with a smile “it’s getting closer!!!”

Arden videoed and I prayed they wouldn’t be waiting long. I didn’t want to inhibit progress by feeling rushed, but I also didn’t want them to be sitting there awkwardly for hours! I was so glad they got the sleep they did, and that the little boys were not on me for my labor either. Abba is so good!

I knew wasn’t going to leave the pad again, but my bladder needed to be emptied for further progress. I acknowledged I was peeing, since it didn’t feel like burst waters but it was still rather involuntary; Drew moved that layer of padding out of the way. I cried out to Abba, acknowledging that it was His Help, His power I needed. I was almost laying on the ground between my knees as I intentionally pushed. I hear Arden say “Abba please help Mama”, and Thayer say “you can do it Mama”, Laurel echoing one or the other. Drew speaks gently “You can do this, love.” In this deep bowing position that I assume was the Holy Spirit’s direction

The Word instructed a kneeling bow
for the deliverance of this head.

 (I’ve never gotten in that position for birthing), the waters erupted, and after another deep breath, I added my efforts again and יהוה brought out baby’s head. (It felt a bit bigger than Oren, since I didn’t have to intentionally push Oren out.)This was at 0522. 

His head was out, but no further contractions were coming. I didn’t want to be in a hurry, I needed the added force of the womb to help baby out so I waited, prayed, asked Drew if everything looked ok. I’ve never had a baby stop there for a few minutes, so I repositioned my body into a kneeling lunge, but prayed, trusted, waited. 

Drew said everything was good, I asked if he needed any more cloths or anything😂 He laughed and said “Don’t worry about me!” I just knew I was making a bit of a mess this time! A contraction came and I gave everything I had, asking for Help within my being, and יהוה delivered into Drew’s hands, our fourth son. I lifted my dress in the front to see him lying between my knees, and immediately saw it was a thick, healthy boy! He let out a good cry and I sat, then lifted him to my chest, hearing him clear out fluid all on his own. 

The design of The Word is truly perfect and astounds me every time! While birth is so ordinary and unremarkable, it is also beautiful and extraordinary. This truth reveals His Word and good nature, His wisdom and complete love. With every child I receive from Him I am sure He will never run out of blessing and power, ability to humble me by His wonders, protection, generosity, that even I get the chance to be covered by His love and blessed by His Hand.

Yah, You truly are Our Deliverer.

After he was born, I sat there waiting for the placenta and it also was slower to come than what I’ve received before! This too was a lesson in patience and humility, not being so sure of myself because of past experiences! I was feeling messy, baby was healthy but waiting to latch on, and we sent the kiddos back to bed so I could get to the bath and clean up a bit without exposing myself. Drew helped me move into the bath, where I held baby and waited for the placenta. The water quickly darkened and the blanket got wet. I was worried about him being cold, so Drew brought in a heater and a fresh towel. We drained the dark water, and ran the bath a little less full to keep him dry; I wasn’t ready to wash him of all the birth, especially not in chlorinated water! (I had ordered a bath filter but it was scheduled to come the day after!) 

In this second batch of bath water, the placenta released and Drew removed it to a bowl. We set the bowl on the side of the bath, gave thanks, Drew brought me some granola and milk, then Cormac woke up and came in to use the potty. He was awed at the sight of his new brother and the adoration was clear on his face! He asked some questions, whether the baby had hands, toes, a belly button... I sure love that boy.

Drew started a bunch of laundry and then he held baby while I washed up in the shower.

We moved to the living room, where Drew burned the cord. We left it a little longer than usual, since it was more awkward to lay him on his side close to the box when he was nursing in my lap. It took probably about 10 minutes, then kiddos came out, did chores and such, and started breakfast. All of them had more kisses and greetings for the unnamed baby. They kept asking what the name was, during which I realized, an S first name for a boy would mean the initials SAD, and we decided that we would hold onto that name in case of a future baby girl because it just doesn’t work for a boy! We weighed him at 8:22 am, and found him to be 10.4 lbs  (remember, yod dalet is 10-4??!)!!!  What a heavy duty boy! His length measured 21”. I moved to our room then, and rested all day long! 

Abba really answered my prayers and gave me such a gift that after pains have been nowhere near as debilitating as the past few times! This is a true miracle and a gift! Abba’s kindness never ends! I feel exceptional, healthy, strong, and womb restoration is happening quickly though not painfully, and despite the size of this boy I have no perineal trauma—no tear, no bruising, not even a hint of tenderness or pain! I had also asked for a steadier pace, since Oren’s 1.5 hours left my mind behind a little bit. I asked for a good 4-6 hour labor and received 5!

Our traditional chicken pot pie and birth day apple pie both were exceptionally satisfying after such a day!

(One might note that I always called 3.14 when this one’s life began. I completely forgot that is π day! Drew looked at this chunk and said “no wonder, he’s a pie baby!”) 

Niall: cloud/champion

Aaro: mountain of strength

O יהוה, Your loving-commitment is in the heavens, And Your trustworthiness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; Your right-rulings are a great deep; O יהוה, You save man and beast. How precious is Your loving-commitment, O Elohim! And the sons of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are filled from the fatness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Draw out Your loving-commitment to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. Psalm 36:5-10