The Long Labor

“She’s having contractions, but not very regular or effective ones,” the nurse explained to me as I received report on a patient in our fourth labor bed. “And her cervix is four centimeters dilated, which hasn’t changed overnight.” As I flipped through the patient’s chart, the handwriting and information started to look familiar. Then it occurred to me, “Oh my goodness! I cared for this patient the day before yesterday. Is she still here?”

“Yep, still pregnant,” the midwife replied.

I had admitted this patient two days ago for induction of labor. It’s not that she had been in labor for two days at this point; it was that we had been trying to get her to go into labor for two days. It wasn’t even her first baby; the problem was that she was postdates of 42 weeks, already ruptured (her water had broken), and the baby’s head was still very high and unengaged in the pelvis after three days of irregular contractions.

“At this rate, she’s asking for a C-section,” I casually commented, and the midwife quickly but playfully rebuked me. “Don’t you dare say that!” And so it became the midwife’s and my goal to get that patient to deliver normally, and we never said the words “Cesarean section” again. 

When other practitioners would have already gone back for a cesarean section by now, this midwife stayed at her bedside and did ligament stretches and position changes to help the baby descend. And while other women would have already been pleading for a cesarean at this point, this amazing woman took every contraction like a champion and did exactly what we told her to do without questioning or complaining. 

At noon, her cervix was still four centimeters dilated, unchanged. 

At 4:00pm, despite the unceasing exercises and stretching, right side, left side, standing up, lunges, leg hanging over the side of the bed stretch. No change. 

“I’m going to check her once more at 5:30, and then I’m going to have to call it,” the midwife said with a sigh, meaning that no cervical change would indicate a cesarean section, especially since the baby’s heart rate was starting to get a little concerning. 

Since nothing had progressed in almost 12 hours, the midwife only examined the patient again at 5:30 out of obligation and a sliver of hope. She squealed with delight when she announced, “You won’t believe it! Seven! Seven centimeters! And the head is coming down!” 

“Prepare for delivery!” 

Hope returned to the patient’s tired eyes, the atmosphere in the room changed color, and the team started rushing around and getting everything in place for the arrival of a long awaited newborn. 

One push, and the head could be seen. Second push, almost there. Third push, the head is born! Fourth small push and the rest of the body delivered quickly, and a baby’s first cry relieved the tension like fireworks of joy and relief. The mother let her head fall back on the bed, exhaled heavily, and a smile spread across her face. We placed the crying baby on her chest and she wrapped her arms around her newborn. He immediately calmed as he snuggled down into his mother. 

It was sincerely one of the most amazing labor processes I’ve ever assisted. When I thought there was no way that baby would ever come down, God made a way. I’d even call it a miracle. 

Every “labor” is hard work; that’s why it’s called labor. But I’m telling you, this woman laboredfor her baby. Tirelessly. Painfully. For three days. With exceeding endurance as if her face was set as stone to bring her baby into the world. It was as if she knew that everyone was holding their breath for a cesarean section, and she was determined to keep it from happening. She never once complained of fatigue. She never once begged us, as women often do, to “give an injection” to make the baby come out (I still haven’t figured out what exactly they are thinking when they ask this) or better yet, just to “pull the baby out.” No, like a champion, she labored stoically and courageously for her baby. And when she finally delivered, we treated her like a hero. Because she was. 

The whole staff of the maternity - midwife, pediatrician, two nurses, two students, and nursing assistant - were pouring words of affirmation over her, patting her shoulder, and oohing and aahing over her baby. I think everyone was relieved that she finally delivered and that her baby was okay. Even I was exhausted from her labor, and I wasn’t even the one having contractions! 

Her whole family - husband and two other children - were welcomed back to see her and the new baby, and the staff kept complimenting the woman, telling her husband how proud he should be of his strong wife. He beamed with pride over her, and I could tell she felt loved and valued. We even took a picture with her, which never happens, and would never be allowed in the United States. But we are in Africa, and this was a delivery that none of us would forget. It was worthy of being documented, just to remember the miracle of how determination, perseverance, and patience bring new life into the world. The pain passes and it all becomes worth it when you see those beady eyes and curly dark hair of a beautiful baby. 

I went home thinking about just that. Working in labor and delivery makes me a better person because every day I am reminded of the work and love it takes to bring a baby into the world, and how that represents exactly what God is doing spiritually in us. Sometimes life feels like labor, and we feel like we aren’t making progress, like it just hurts and we’re going nowhere. But that’s when God reveals himself beside us, and he sees the progress that we are making when we are blinded by the pain. As we labor, he labors with us and for us, all to bring about the birth of something new in us. New life. A new creation. Isaiah said that God never causes pain without allowing something new to be born (66:9). 

I know that look of pain in the eyes of someone who has been laboring for a long time. I know how the face searches for a word of reassurance that everything is going to be all right. If that’s you today, then I grab your hand and look you in the eyes and say tenderly, but firmly because of the confidence that I hold...

God does not cause pain without allowing something new to be born. This labor is hard and the pain you feel is real, but it is this pain that is bringing forth new life. And in just a few moments, the pain will pass and a joy will come upon you that will exceed whatever suffering you are now experiencing. You are making progress, so keep your courage and don’t give up. Your perseverance will pay off, and the reward will be worth the struggle. God is with you, and he is doing something new; he is bringing forth new life.