Parents have been using professional photographers’ cameras to share the beauty of their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥’s 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 experience for years. In a new series, we’re focusing on one story at a time, showcasing the many different ways babies are 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 and the grace of each family’s story.

Wilkenson explains in her own words how unpredictable labor may be, regardless of how many times you’ve experienced it. Five of my kids are mine. My oldest 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 is 6 years old, and during the past four years, I’ve had four additional 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. It was fascinating!

I gave 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to each of my following pregnancies at home after giving 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to my first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 in a hospital. With my first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, I went into labor for around 24 hours, and I think it would have taken longer if I hadn’t been given Pitocin. After that, my second went into active labor for about two hours. I think I had my third 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 when I was three. My fourth procedure, which took 14 hours, started off in severe pain. Because of this, I had a clear idea of what I wanted to happen, if it was feasible, and knew to expect the unexpected before having my most recent 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥. My husband should catch the infant, I wanted. Also, it was crucial for me to make an effort to find some solitude soon after the kid was delivered. Because my first and third pregnancies ended at 41 weeks, I was well prepared for it to happen this time. Yet, I had been experiencing labor-like symptoms starting at 36 weeks.

At 39 weeks, I went to bed like usual and then woke up maybe 45 minutes later to a giant contraction and tons of pressure. The infant seemed to be standing there, to me. I do have a history of some really fast labors, but I’ve also had some long ones, so I felt like I didn’t know what was happening. My husband asked me if I was going to have a 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 right away when I woke him up. My contractions were spaced out by three minutes. Indeed, as soon as he asked, I felt a contraction come on and began to tremble. Oh my gosh, did I really just wake up in transition, I wondered.

We had discussed with my midwife what to do in case things moved quickly because I’d had a few quick labors in the past. So, we had this limited period to be ready for ourselves. We didn’t have to because my midwife, who lives around 45 minutes away, was on time. I recall thinking to myself, “I need them to slow down because I cannot do this,” as my contractions were quite close together. I was still preparing myself for the idea of doing this for another 14 hours after my last labor, even though everyone else seemed to understand how close I was.

I jumped into the tub. My husband and midwife were kind of like, “Yeah, Ash, whatever you say,” while I was still under the impression that I was only there to lessen my contractions. Everything did slow down in the water, but the contractions quickly picked back up. Those were definitely not dilation contractions, either. They were contractions to deliver the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦.

I got out of the tub, and he was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 within a contraction and a half. After my husband managed to catch him, I simply held him and stared at him for some time.

He’s such a chill 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦. I love that I can see it in these photos, even though he has that little pout face. He has such a sweet demeanor, and he has had it since the very beginning.

It’s difficult to express how incredible it was to have him here. One of my greatest joys ever was felt at that moment. To finally finish the incredibly arduous, protracted process of being pregnant after seeing him, learning that he was a boy, discovering his gender, holding him on my chest, hearing him cry, and seeing his face. I drank in all the cuddles and sobbed uncontrollably, feeling so relieved and grateful that we succeeded.

The 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren were sound asleep the entire time. We were willing for them to come inside if they wanted to, or to stay outside if that was what they desired. We had a friend here who was prepared to monitor them if we needed it. But, they eventually got up four or five hours after the kid was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧. They were eager to introduce themselves to the infant but decided to leave since they wanted to go to my sister’s house instead. I took a rest.

Now that I have done this five times, I have definitely learned to expect the unexpected and to be OK if absolutely nothing seems to be going the way it’s “supposed” to go. It resembles having numerous 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren nearby in some ways. Oh my gosh, this is crazy, we think to ourselves at times. But we are overjoyed. Even though this labor and delivery were totally different from my expectations going into the pregnancy, after he was here, I felt incredibly proud of myself and thrilled with how everything turned out. When I reflect on the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦’s 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 narrative, I can clearly feel the hand of a devoted God at work.