Eden Lee: Birth Story
I can’t believe our sweet Eden babe is 7 weeks old! How?! Time is such a thief. I am finally getting a chance to sit down and finish writing out his birth story. I have been slowly getting all the details put together and didn’t want to rush through. I did share a lot of details on Instagram about everything, and Jonathan and I did an IGTV about it as well.
Our pregnancy with Eden was so beautiful. Jonathan and I decided to keep it off social media until we were ready to share. We only told close friends and family, and it was truly the best decision ever. With all the crazy that the year 2020 brought, we just wanted this kept private and peaceful. We didn’t need anymore opinions or toxicity around us or our growing family, so we chose to keep baby Eden in the “secret place.” Psalm 91 says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” I felt at peace with keeping our miracle safe and sound – away from the world and nestled in my womb. We prayed, spoke life, and played blessings and worship over our baby. It was so beautiful and holy.
My guess date with Eden was February 9th, 2021. With Theo and Finley, I went over 41 weeks, so I told myself that I would probably go to 41 weeks with this baby as well. I had patience and peace and felt totally fine with that. I was truly trying to soak in every day with just my two boys and really just enjoy the time we had as a family of four. On Monday, February 8th, my dear friend and doula, Paige took me for pedicures, lunch, and a long walk. I truly was surrounded by the BEST community during this time. So many of my friends and I grew closer and developed unbreakable bonds. They brought me food, gifts, encouragement, and words right when I needed them. Sometimes they came bearing iced lattes, and sometimes they came with just a hug, but everything they brought was always right on time and so needed.
After the 41 week mark, I started to get impatient and frustrated. I was swollen, weepy, round, and just ready to hold my baby. My mom came to stay with us on Wednesday, February 17th because she could sense that I just needed her here, and she wanted to help with the boys. Jonathan and my sweet mama were angels, keeping me distracted, making me laugh, helping with the boys and the house. I was living in the land of in between… trying to soak in every last second with my two boys, yet wanting so badly for my baby to come. It was such a raw time. I remembered just staring at his little nook set up in our room. I would sit and pray over our new little blessing and read my affirmations and gaze at his sweet little face still in the safety of my womb. Not exposed to the world just yet. Still in the secret place. Perfect in every way.
The night my mom came over, Jonathan set up the birthing pool as I was having braxton hicks; we just knew that our babe would be coming soon. Thursday was another day of trying to stay distracted and patient. Jonathan, Theo and I went and looked at a house and had lunch together. It was nice to just get away with Theo and Jonathan. Friday, we decided to go and see my midwife and get out of the house again, just Jonathan and I. My midwife offered to do a membrane sweep, which I declined. I didn’t have to do that with the boys, so I just wanted to continue to wait and let my body do what it was created to do. She listened to the baby and everything sounded good. So we decided to continue to just wait it out. That afternoon we went and had a yummy lunch at the same spot Jonathan and I had our very first lunch date, it was so special to sit and reminisce and laugh, just the two of us. After that, we walked around the mall for little while. That day I remember having more braxton hicks, which I just ignored and didn’t think much about since I had been having them for the past few days.
That evening seemed a little different though, I remember spending a lot longer with Finley at bedtime and thinking how this very well could be the last time I was going to be a mama of two. After getting the boys down, I pumped five minutes on and five minutes off for about an hour. I got about an ounce of colostrum. In between pumping, I would bounce on the birthing ball. I remember still having some twinges of pain, but once again just ignored them. We went up to bed around 10:00PM and I remember just being uncomfortable and restless throughout the night. I got up at 1:30AM and came downstairs, got some water, walked around, and diffused some oils. I went back upstairs to try and rest some more. I got up again around 3AM and took a bath with epsom salt and oils. I stayed in the bath for a little while and then decided to lay back down. Around 5AM, I got up and took another bath. I noticed my mucus plug had passed in the bathtub and thought, “okay, this could be the day,” although I wasn’t really having regular contractions, it was still a sign that I so very much needed. Jonathan got up at this point and started to get excited, which I quickly told him to calm down because I wasn’t having regular contractions and it would probably be a while.
I got out of the tub, and the boys started waking up around 7AM. We all went downstairs and started fixing breakfast and getting our morning routines started. I remember the waves would come and go, yet I was still talking through them and going about business as usual, so I didn’t really pay much attention. Around 9AM, I went upstairs to get ready for the day. When I got upstairs, I remembered texting my chiropractor so she could come over and do an adjustment on me, just to make sure everything was aligned and in place. Jonathan came up shortly after and told me that the photographer and one of my doulas had already arrived. I didn’t say anything, but I remember feeling annoyed that he did that. I didn’t want everyone there just in case labor stalled or if it was false labor. But, after coming downstairs, we all realized that this was indeed labor and I felt at peace knowing that everyone wanted to be there to support me. My doula and sweet friend, Jess, started timing the contractions without me knowing, and they were every five minutes at this point. My other doula, Paige, arrived around 10AM and the midwives came in shortly after around 10:30AM.
I remember feeling so much love in the room and during my labor. I would laugh after contractions and talk with everyone. It was calm and peaceful, just as I had envisioned, in the comfort of my home. I felt relaxed, ready, safe, and prepared to bring this baby earth side with the best birth team and the coziest environment. Everyone kept encouraging me, doing counter pressure, talking at the right times, being quiet at the right times, helping and entertaining the boys, reminding me to empty my bladder, relax, and breathe, offering me water, oils, and snacks. I remember at one point as I was bouncing on the birth ball Jonathan leaned in and said, “we’re going to have a baby today.” Looking back, it was the best experience, and I am so thankful for all the hands in that room.
Around 11AM, I wanted to head upstairs. Things were getting more intense and I felt like I wanted to just be in my bedroom to focus, breathe, and continue laboring. When we got upstairs, I remember stacking all the pillows up and laying over the bed and swaying. Finley kept coming up to me wanting me to hold him and wanting to just be near me. I remember getting really emotional and starting to cry, not from pain, but just knowing that this would be the last time he’d be my baby. I held him close, breathed him in and wanted to just make time stand still so he’d be my littlest love for just a little while longer. Jonathan could tell that I needed to be alone, so he asked if I wanted to get in the shower. I kissed Finley one last time, and he and I went in the bathroom and shut the doors.
I stayed in the shower for a little while, but was just getting very uncomfortable and knew my body was transitioning. I got out and continued to have contractions back to back. The midwives came in and suggested that I go ahead and get in the birthing pool. I came out of the bathroom and got in the pool, and remember my contractions being so intense. I would barely have a break between them. But, I still felt so much encouragement and support in the room. Jonathan was continuing to do counter pressure, offering me water, and homeopathic tablets. Paige and my mom were putting cool cloths on me, reminding me to breathe, and relax my face. I could hear my worship play list in the background, but I kept my eyes closed the majority of the time.
The birth pool was set up right in front of our bedroom window, which was so beautiful. I remember the light pouring in and dancing around the pool during labor and even after, it was the perfect setting for our little light bringer coming forth. It had been rainy, dreary, and cold, for several days prior, but on Eden’s birthday the sun was bright and beautiful. It was all so sacred and Holy Spirit filled. The presence of God was so thick in that room.
Things started to get very intense and I remember feeling so much pressure…like I needed to push. I listened to my body, and started pushing. I remember my midwife saying, “if you feel like you need to push, then push.” Which I was not used to, I figured I would need to be checked and coached and told what to do and when to do it, but it was totally opposite. I felt so empowered to just listen to my body and let it do the work. Everything just flowed naturally, which is how labor and birth should be. Eden’s head came out and it was still in the sac of water, which is such a miracle and very rare. Jonathan got to see, and then when I pushed again the rest of his body came out and my water broke. I remember pulling him up on my chest and feeling so much relief and pure joy. I was so overwhelmed with all the feels and hormones I just started sobbing.
The song that was playing as he was ushered earth side was Kari Jobe’s “Let the Light In,” the perfect welcoming in song for our little delight. Jonathan and I were both crying and just so thankful that our baby was finally here. It was the most beautiful moment that will be etched into my mind and heart forever. Eden was brought into this world, in the secret place of our home and bedroom, surrounded by love and light and natural beauty. After about 5 or 10 minutes, Jonathan whispered in my ear, “is it a boy or girl.” He had already seen, but I hadn’t even thought to look. I checked, and it was a another baby BOY!
The boys came in and met their brother, which was so special. Finley actually wanted to get in the tub with us. After being in the tub for for a while, I handed Eden off to Jonathan and while he did skin-to-skin, I got nestled into our bed, which was another one of my favorite parts. My dear friend brought me homemade beef stew and water while the midwives whisked around the room like magical fairies cleaning everything up. The midwives later assessed Eden right there on our bed. Jonathan got to weigh our little (BIG) boy who came out to a whopping 9 pounds 1 ounce and 22 inches long, my jaw almost hit the floor when I heard him proudly announce that. After birth was such a tender time as we all were snuggled in bed, taking it all in, getting to know the newest member of our family.
Sweet Eden was born in a room full of love. He was surrounded by light, joy, Jesus, and family. I couldn’t have asked for a better birth with our boy. I received so many signs and words from the Lord symbolizing light during pregnancy, labor, and birth. The Lord gave me Eden’s verse back in December of 2020, Isaiah 9:2: “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” It was no coincidence that the light was the brightest it had been in several days on the day of his birth. We had a girl name picked that meant “shining light.” The boy name we had on our list for the entire pregnancy ended up changing at the end. Jonathan and I fell in love with the name Eden, which means “delight.” Light was symbolized during the song he was born to and there were many more beautiful signs from my heavenly Father that touched my heart. Eden’s birth was redemptive and so special. I know God has big plans for our little Eden and I can’t wait to watch them unfold.
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