Bennett Mace Whitacre - July 24, 2013

It started like any other Tuesday of late. I took our boys to their Aiya's house (Tim's mom) for the day while I headed to SLO for appointments. I saw my OB first and found out I was 3 cm dialated. I was partially encouraged because at least my body was doing something, but I also kept any hopes of labor in check because I was at 3 cm for a month before our second son, Elijah, was born.

From the OB, I went to see my chiropractor. The right side of my pelvis and hips had been very painful for about 24 hours. She said I was very out and that hopefully aligning my pelvis would get things going. Again, I kept my expectations low. I kept reminding myself that God knew what was going on with my body and our baby. I could rest in that and not worry about what, where and when. That is much easier said than done for me after our birth experience with Elijah (accidental home birth, 911, ambulance ride, blah, blah, blah...).

I finished the errands I needed to run in SLO and headed home. I wasn't feeling very well and laid down for a nap. I am so thankful for all the Tuesdays when Aiya and Papa Carl have generously taken the boys for a full day for me to go to appointments and rest. I was especially thankful on this day.

For the last couple of weeks, I had been distracting myself with projects and activities and Tuesday would be no different. Tim's sister Linda had invited us to a Blue's baseball game that evening. We took the boys and had a great time eating candy and playing on the grass. I would say we watched a baseball game but I don't think we saw more than ten minutes with an almost four year old and a two year old.

We came home and I didn't feel great but I hadn't felt great for a month. It felt more like the state of my existence than the beginning of the end of this pregnancy. I went to bed at 11 pm and fell right to sleep. At 12:20 am, my water broke and I woke up in a panic. I told Tim and since he is a hard sleeper he mumbled at me. So I upped my volume as any crazy pregnant lady would do. He woke up wide eyed and adjusted to the fact that this was on like donkey kong. I was a bit panicked, but we managed to call Linda to stay at the house with the boys while we got all our goods in the car. She pulled in to the driveway and we backed out determined to get to the hospital.

Contractions started about 15 minutes into the drive and were anywhere from two to five minutes apart. I was white knuckled and anxious. All I wanted at this point was to get through the hospital doors. We got in a room and "settled" around 1:15 am. Our good friend and doula, Amy, arrived right behind us and we were so thankful to have her there.

I lose track of time around this point in his birth story, but to the best of my recollection contractions picked up significantly around 1:45 am. They started coming about one minute apart and ever increasing in intensity. My stud muffin of a husband, Tim, supported me literally and figuratively the entire time. He sat on the bed and I leaned my entire body weight onto him for the next hour and a half. It doesn't sound like the best way to labor, but it worked for me. I kept focused on relaxing and telling myself that the pain was productive and that I wanted to meet my son. Holy Smokes! It hurt.

Amy did an awesome job of reminding me to relax different parts of my body, especially my face, as the contractions intensified. She also read our needs so well. I became very internal, closed my eyes and didn't want much talking during contractions. She was such a blessing to both Tim & I. (A lot of the photos here were taken by her as well. I'll just go ahead and say it, "Amy rocks.")

7/24/13 at 3:17 am

Just after 3 am, I started to feel the need to push. Amy called the nurse in and she (very casually) came in and checked me. She said that there was still a small cervical lip and left the room. Again, my eyes were still closed, but I was pretty annoyed with what I perceived as her "Yeah right, sweetie, you aren't having this baby yet" tone. I was also in a lot of pain and easily bothered this late in the game. About two minutes later, I could feel him coming and I yelled it again. Amy ran to alert the nurse and things moved in high gear in that hospital room. They tell me I pushed for about ten minutes before Bennett Mace made his grand appearance three hours and seventeen minutes into his due date, July 24, 2013. (Very punctual. I like that.) He weighed in at 8 lbs 8 oz and 19 inches long. He was 1 pound larger than our other two sons. I guess he already knows he is going to have to hold his own with his two big brothers.


I was so very thankful when it was over. It had been an anxiously awaited event for me, but it went wonderfully - just under three hours from water breaking to meeting baby. Making it to the hospital was a weighty burden on me for the month leading up to his birth, but by the grace of God we made it in plenty of time. Doctor Freeman delivered Bennett and she was wonderful. She was calming and so kind with a wonderful bedside manner. Another amazing gift from God that she was the one to deliver if our OB, Dr. Lickness couldn't be there. As I look back, I see God's hand in all of this and can see that He knew my heart and my fears and one by one carried me through them all showing Himself all-sufficient.

Bennett Mace is such a sweet addition to our family. Bennett  means "blessed". Mace means "gift of God". He truly is both to us. I already can't imagine life without him. Jude and Elijah dote on him constantly and are always asking to hold him. It is very sweet and more than I could have hoped for during this time. Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of new life. Blessed be your name.