Trevor David Zittle
    Born February 15, 2007
    4:37 pm ~ 9 lbs 0 oz ~ 21 inches long

~Lovingly shared by Trevor's Mom, Kristi~

Six days had passed since my due date had come and gone. Normally, I would not have struggled so, as most of my children have been at least two weeks late, but this pregnancy had been so different. After our twins were born prematurely at 24 weeks and too small to live for long (one died 5 minutes after birth, the second lived over an hour) this pregnancy had been a huge test of my faith.

Every little thing had to be brought to the Savior to give me reassurance that all was well and that I could trust the Lord to keep this baby well and to give me the grace to handle each day.

Well, going late was especially hard as I was afraid my body would not be a safe place for our little one to be. We had prayed hard and spent each late day doing the same. I thought perhaps Valentines would be the day as God's gift to my husband and I for our love for one another, but that night came and went. Early on the 15th, we were having our family devotions and all the children prayed that God would let the baby come today. It was to be a busy day as we were keeping two year old triplets for a friend of mine and a 7 month old little boy for another. So we were busy with our 8 and 4 extras. I also had three appointments scheduled to see some of my childbirth education clients so I figured it would be later that day if at all. My husband left for work at 9 am and I noticed I was feeling a bit crampy. The baby and the triplets all came around 9:30 am and my first client at 10 am. A few minutes into my first appointment, I had a real contraction. Because I had been having them on and off for days, I did not believe I was really in labor.

By the time my first client left at 11 am and my second arrived, I had experienced about 10 contractions. They were about a minute long and not really hurting much at all. By the middle of my second appointment, they were lasting a little longer and there was a sting at the peak of the contraction. I still was not quite positive this was it, but was beginning to be more and more convinced. My last client arrived at 11:45 am and about 15 minutes into her appointment, I knew I was in labor. The contractions were steady, consistent and starting to hurt a little at the peak. When she left at 12:15 pm, I decided to lay down to see if I could get a little rest. Within 45 minutes, the pain was a lot more intense and laying down was very hard to do. At this point I was praying the parents would come and pick up their children so I could get into my birth spa. They both arrived at 2 pm and I went downstairs at that time to get into my spa.

Normally my labors last 12 hours from start to finish and I get stuck around 7 cm. My contractions are normally slow and steady, slowly progressing and I get a chance to get used to them. Even when stuck at 7, they are bearable. Usually around 8 1/2 cm I start to feel some minor pressure and I then fly to complete and pushing. But this labor was nothing like anything I had ever experienced. When I got into my spa I felt the pain was excruciating. I was having trouble getting on top of the contractions to relax and manage them properly. I began feeling intense bowel pressure with contractions and so I shockingly thought after just having labored for about 4 hours that I must be close to complete. I asked my daughter to check me and she showed me how far apart her fingers would spread--ONLY FIVE CM! I thought I was going to die. Then I thought, she must be wrong, she is not an expert and has never really checked anyone for dilation before, so I asked her to call her daddy to come home from work. When he arrived at 2:30 pm I asked him to check me. He also felt I was only about 5 cm. At this point I thought something was wrong. I thought perhaps the fear from what had happened with my twins was causing more severe pain and my inability to relax. I was trying everything, singing and praising God for His goodness to bless us, prayer, even outwardly calling out to Him to give me strength. I know He was there but I felt filled with such despair and trepidation. I begged my husband to take me to the hospital as I knew if I had another 8 hours to labor like this I would never make it; but my precious and wise daughter had heard me with enough laboring moms to know that everyone wants to give up and thinks they cannot handle the pain. She reassured her daddy that I was ok and encouraged him to be strong for me and tell me I could do it. She also decided to call upon Kristin, our dear friend who was going to come to pray for us and help us with the laboring.

I must admit, I never remember feeling such despair and lack of control as I did that day. I believe Kristin  arrived around 3 or 3:30 pm and just having her put her hand in mine and knowing she was there just for me and to pray for me and my precious baby was enough to give me the strength to go on. We did another exam at that point because the pressure was so intense I could hardly bare it. I was only 7 cm. I was so afraid that I would have 3 hours of pain like this because I could only go on my past labors, even though this was moving so much faster than I had ever experienced before. I had never been to 7 cm within 5 hours! I labored for another 30 minutes in my spa and then Kristin suggested I go to the bathroom. I had been trying to release my urine for a while knowing a full bladder could hinder things; but all to no avail. The baby's head was so hard pressing against my bladder that I was unable to release any urine. I went to the bathroom and my pain increased fourfold being out of the water and upright completely. I could not hold back my moaning and was crying too as each wave of tightenings came. I was begging God to allow this all to end and praying He would have mercy upon me. After trying to urinate through three contractions I got up knowing I could not sit on the toilet any longer. Kristin then suggested we go upstairs to my bedroom because she felt the time was close by. I looked up the stairs and wondered how I would ever make it up there. I went through another contraction bent over the bottom few steps and then ran up the stairs as fast as I could.

None of the normal positions that I yearn for in labor were comfortable to me. I usually love my birth stool but it was very painful and I had to get up. I ended up in a hands and knees on my bed and with the next contraction felt my body involuntarily pushing my baby out. I told everyone this was happening and yet my exam showed I was only at 8 cm. I remembered shedding several tears and begging God for answers to this pain and yet knowing in my heart He was right there with me. With the next contraction, my body began pushing again and I remembered what I tell ladies during labor--if your body begins to do it, your body will follow through with it, so I gave into the push, it hurt more than I could have imagined and knew I needed to change positions. I got my husband behind me and I turned over so I was in a sitting squat on my bed leaning into my husbands arms. When the next contraction came and with it the overwhelming pushing urge, I went with it and pushed hard and my baby's head crowned. My daughter was shocked to see it happen so quickly. All the births she had seen had at least 30 minute or longer pushing phases and she realized this was going to be quick. As that contraction peaked and began to come down, the baby's head was completely delivered. I asked her if the head was restituting (turning itself to align the shoulders for ease of maneuvering the pelvis) and she said it was turning to face my right thigh. I then asked her to feel for a cord which she felt around one shoulder, behind the back of the neck and around the other shoulder. It was too tight to cut and I was too ready for this baby to be born so I told her to just get ready it would be fast. I pushed hard and our baby was born. My daughter spun the baby around to loosen the cord that was tangled over the shoulders and around the belly. We immediately heard good strong cries and sneezing and coughing and knew the baby was fine.

We had prayed after losing our twin sons that God may see fit to bless us with another boy. We had six girls and only two boys at the time. I asked my daughter to look at this baby and when tears began to pour from her eyes I knew God had granted our request for another boy! Our precious and long awaited for son, Trevor David, was born at 4:37 pm into the loving arms of his 16 year old sister, Kati, whose first official baby catch is now her baby brother! When his sister and I did his newborn exam a few hours later, we found him to weigh 9 pounds even and measure 21 inches in length.

Kati cut his cord and swaddled him in several blankets as she handed him to me to nurse for the first time. It was everything I had remembered it to be and more!

Sister Kati weighing newborn Trevor

I cannot praise God enough for the precious gift of our ninth live child and for allowing our precious first to hold such a critical and intricate part in his birth. This entire pregnancy and delivery was so healing for us all and we praise the Lord for His goodness in giving us the strength and fortitude to persevere even through the anxieties and trials. We are also super thankful for a godly sister in the Lord, Kristin, who met our needs abundantly during labor, delivery, and postpartum as she prayed for us and encouraged us through each step of the way! Thank you Lord for her and for all she means to us and for the place in our hearts that will always hold her near and dear!

Newborn Trevor

Two Month old Trevor


Back Row: Abby, Sarah, Josh, Kati, Brady
Middle Row: Emma, Gracie, Kristi and Steve
Front Row on Kristi's lap: Trevor and Isabella

Jacob Todd and Joel Thomas Born July 12, 2005 at 24 weeks gestation,
cradled in Kristi and Steve's arms for a short while but in their hearts forever.