My Journey with Julia

In February this year Deon and I learned that I was pregnant with our fourth child. We were somewhat anxious during the first trimester seeing that we had once before lost a baby due to a miscarriage. We thought once we had made it through the first three months all would be "smooth sailing" from then on. My previous births with our two boys’ pregnancies, went smoothly but little did we know that it was not going to be like that this time.

It was not our baby that we were threatening to loose but instead I suffered from several medical conditions that can happen during a pregnancy. The most physically draining of these complications and most painful was a pelvis problem, called, Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction. I started experiencing this pain at around four months of my pregnancy and as each week passed it became worse. I was unable to walk near the end of the nine-months and Deon had to push me around in a wheel chair on the rare occasion that I went out. Along with the other two problems that I was experiencing in this pregnancy, all of this made for a difficult and challenging time in our lives. I’m thankful to the Lord that my situation was not worse.

As the end of my nine-month journey came into sight we were shocked to hear that our baby girl would have to be delivered three weeks early due to these  medical problems I had and  a high blood pressure problem. Instead of arriving on or near October 30^th our new baby daughter was now scheduled to arrive on October 9^th. Then to add to our stress, my doctor told us that unfortunately he would not be able to perform the cesarean section because he would be on holiday during that time and that a different gynecologist would be doing the surgery. At first I was disappointed but upon meeting the other doctor my mind was put at ease. Deon was also somewhat reticent of this change but when he found out that the doctor’s surname was Janse van Rensburg he told me all would work out just fine :)

On the day of our daughter’s birth we checked into the hospital and I waited my turn for the C-section. As a part of the surgery preparation the nurse came to see me that would be present during the delivery. When she came around the corner I couldn’t believe whom I saw. It was a young lady that I’ve known since she was a little girl. As Teri worded it, “You were my youth leader and now I’m your daughter’s nurse!” Teri made sure that all the nurses and doctors in the theater were aware of the pelvic condition I had and was also the nurse that would be taking care of our daughter upon her arrival. It was such a blessing and answer to prayer when I saw her and heard what her role would be that day. We were told that our little girl could have a few possible problems one of them being her respiratory system and would most likely have to be in the NICU after she was born. As the time came closer for me to be taken to the theater my heart continued to calm as the Lord answered so many of my prayers even before the surgery had began.

The time had come and I was taken into theater where they prepped me for the cesarean section. Deon was at my side the whole time. I was a bit anxious with this C-section because Jesse’s birth, also a C-section, was not the birthing experience I had expected but I tried to relax and focus on the Lord knowing He was with me each step of the way. After the spinal block was put in place I was ready for the surgery I had hoped would be over soon. As the gynecologist started cutting I immediately said, “ I can feel you cutting me!” I remember the nurse assisting the gynecologist query me about if I knew the difference between pain and pressure. I told him yes I do! I had pressure with my first C-section and this does not feel like that. I described to them that if felt like they were taking a whole bunch of needles and stabbing them into my stomach.

They finally accepted that I knew the difference  but because the cut had already been made they could not do anything to help with the excruciating pain I experienced throughout the rest of the surgery. They explained that they could not give me general anesthetic because it would affect our little girl negatively. The anesthetist explained that the spinal block was not placed high enough and so it was not deadening the area where they were cutting. He said the slight coverture of the spine that I had must have had him confused as to where to place it. The gynecologist proceeded carefully and as each layer was cut the anesthetist explained to me what was happening and that each time the pain would get worse.

He did give me some sort of local pain medication before each cut was made but it did not seem to help much. I remember the most pain occurring when they cut the uterus and when our baby girl was taken out with her head coming first and then her shoulders. Tears ran down my face as I groaned every time I felt the pain of them cutting. I have had times where I had the thought what would I do in a situation where I was completely helpless and where no one could be of a help to me. This was one of those moments and after assessing what was going to happen I remember praying to the Lord through each painful cut that was made.

I wanted to be a testimony to those in the room and knew that only with the Lord’s help I could do that. The beautiful moment when I heard our little Julia Michelle’s cry and she was given to me to hold was very much worth all that I had to endure during this C-section.  Deon left with Julia as I was put under general anesthetic so that the doctor could complete the surgery. My nurse in the recovery room attending to me, (yes, can you believe it), another Janse van Rensburg, said that I had woken up asking where my daughter had been taken. The Lord answered our prayers in every way. Julia was born without any respiratory problems and did not have to go to the NICU!

I can with confidence say that if an expectant mother asked me if she should have her child naturally or by C-section, I would most definitely answer that if it were possible, to go with the natural birth. There is no other pain like the one I experienced with Julia’s birth. I can also testify that without the Lord’s help anything in life is going to be difficult. I’m so happy to know the Lord as my Savior because without Him in my life nothing would be possible, even a small event such as the birth of your child.

My life’s verse helped me to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” 

I thank the Lord for His protection over Julia and I on her birth day but most of all for again showing His faithfulness to our family in our time of need.

Thank you, to all our prayer supporters, friends and family for praying for us these past nine months as well as on the day of Julia’s birth. Knowing that you were praying was a great comfort. We look forward to you meeting our third little blessing, Julia Michelle Janse van Rensburg!

Our Daughter is named after
 my grandmother, Julia D. Matthews, pictured here with my Mom.

Julia Michelle Janse van Rensburg
9 October 2014
2.9 kg