our dearest darling Wulfric Benjamin Wolfaardt
The beginning of your story is taking much more out of me & much longer than what I expected… But this is how you made your entrance into the outside world.
We were nervously excited as we reached 40 weeks, full term, & had an appointment at Estherea to see what’s going on inside mom’s preggy belly. The weekend running up to Monday 18 May 2020, mom experienced some interesting pre labour indicators. We kept monitoring it & realized we were at the beginning of your labour process…
Dad had to report in uniform for some training with the reserve force, so he dropped me off at your uncle & aunt. Getting to spend some time with your cousins. Your aunt took us to see our midwife at Estherea. (it was your aunt’s first time taking a look at the place we’ve been talking about so much).
We had to sign in, have our temperatures taken & be sanitized due to the pandemic procedures in place. After which we took your aunt for a quick guided tour & headed to the consultation room
Everything looked good & I had to have an internal check up during which my water broke. & that was the moment where the countdown clock to your arrival started ticking!
We settled into our labour room, sent out the messages that you’re on your way & suddenly nerves & emotions overwhelmed me a bit. Realizing this new chapter is about to start & that I missed my mom (your grandma Noeleen) even more in all of this.
After being settled in I got my first set of prescribed medications via drip.
Dad couldn’t join us immediately, but he tried his best to join us as soon as possible. Excitement set in as we knew we could not wait to finally meet you!
Melanie & I went walking, even though it was just to the butcher on the corner down the street… On our way there we waved down our pastor who stopped & excitedly right there & then prayed for us & your safe arrival! We told him we’re off to get some snacks (& when we got there he had gotten us a little something for us as well – which as part of an inside joke, your dad was given the pink steri stumpie).
We got dad settled into the room… With that we also started talking about what we’re expecting regarding the process that’s lying ahead. Together we stood in prayer, blessing each other & the birth process, giving it all over into God’s hands.
Something that really warmed my heart was the openness & deep conversations that just flowed while we were excitingly waiting for you to make your appearance. Your mom was surprised as well as to her own pain threshold, we decided to not make use of pain meds, but do it as natural as possible.
Using all sorts of different techniques – Margret, Melanie & dad making use of pressure points & oils, spending time in the birthing bath, being shaken a bit as well… Mom had to get some meds though, all via a drip I received oxytocin & antibiotics. We were both continually monitored to see how far along my cervix dilated & how far you’ve dropped. In all of this we encouraged dad to try get some sleep as well, as he still had to attend training at the army the following day!
We came to a point after 18 hours in labour where you did not drop far enough, mom’s cervix did not dilate enough & it was moving out of the safe framework at Estherea for us to have a safe birth… Although it was an insanely difficult decision it had to be made.
Mom was hysterically heartbroken, fighting with everything in her against the idea of a caesarean & what was to unfold…
The Estherea team stood with us in prayer regarding the decision, an ambulance was called & they went out of their way to help us make the best of the situation & have a safe delivery. Safe mommy & baby!!
The ambulance team tried making the ride as smooth, fast & comfy as possible – all while trying to get all the necessary paperwork done (not just for them, but also for the hospital.) Dad was able to ride with us in the ambulance & Melanie brought our car to the hospital. She kept on blessing us in prayer for a safe delivery.
At the hospital, everything felt like a blur… Everyone rushing around to get things done ASAP! (while mom’s still struggling to wrap her head around the idea of the caesarean that is going to happen). It was rather traumatic – things not going as mom wanted it to, feeling like my worst nightmare came true… But I knew I had to push through!
Dad helped A LOT!! Getting more paper work done while mom was prepped for surgery… all while still having contractions…. waiting for one of those mean ones to subside before inserting the spinal anaesthesia, mom had to bite down hard on her teeth (as my fear of needles jumped up as well). After the anaesthetics kicked in mom got a catheter which lead them to cover & expose everything to ensure your safe delivery!
The doctors waited for dad before they started cutting & pulling mom open in order to take you out! Once you were out you & dad disappeared for a bit as they quickly took you to be cleaned, weighed & measured as well as have the APGAR test done, to ensure everything is as it should be.
Dad’s description of what happened as soon you were lifted out was that the nurse’s smile went right around her face & he almost had to run to keep up with her. (Dad struggled to contain his own emotions) Mom was out of it due to fatigue & having to take oxygen, BUT I’ll never forget that moment dad brought you back to show you off while the doctors were busy finishing up closing mom up again. I was overwhelmed with emotion, relieved all went well & we finally had you in our arms!
The next bit as rather a blur, but I remember the pride I saw in your dad’s eyes as he looked at us… There was sadness as well as he knew he would not see us again until we were discharged due to all the pandemic regulations that the hospital had in place. We were told that we were incredibly fortunate to have had dad with us during the delivery, for which we are truly grateful!
We received a welcome to the world gift bag from the hospital & mom had a heart to heart with the head of neo-natal department due to my traumatic experience. BUT your mom realised that God had stepped in and saved the day even though I could not see it at that point, it was for the best that I was looked after in hospital (dad was at a training camp – so it was truly a blessing in disguise).
You had some time on the beach as your paediatrician called it – laying under the lights due to jaundice, but that was also taken care of rather quickly… You impressed everyone with your development & growth!
The nursery sisters adored you & it was clear that the whole family & all of our friends fell in love with you instantly as we tried to send as many photos and videos of you to everyone! To our excitement we heard the Friday morning that all is well – all the doctors involved gave their sign off that we could go home!
We had to wait for dad to arrive… but the wait was worth it! Seeing the emotion & pride in his eyes when he laid eyes on us was incredible. Stepping out of the hospital, putting you into your car seat made it real. You’re here & we’re finally headed home…
That my dearest darling Wulfric Benjamin Wolfaardt is how you made your entrance into this crazy world!
Until our next declaration of love
lots of love & BLESSINGS
the WolfPack
ScarletWulf 