An Induction Surrounded By Family At Hendrick Medical Center In Abilene, Texas

Written by Danielle Robertson (Birth Mother) | Photographed by Mariah Williams

The night before she came, I remember being filled with fearful and nervous anticipation of her pending arrival. 

Things had already started to go wrong.  Confusion at the hospital pushed our induction date back and we were left scrambling to adjust plans to be sure family from out of town could make it. Those moments of frustration created the perfect environment for me to ruminate on concerns and fears that seemed to dominate my last few weeks of being pregnant. 

How would I feel when she got here? Could I live a life that showed both her AND my little boy how much I loved them? How would my heart grow to love her when I loved Luca so much? How would I fiercely love my son and take care of her at the same time?

I was also nervous about postpartum depression. Overwhelming and dark memories would periodically fill my mind about the last time I had a baby… leading me to worry about what was to come. 

On top of personal and family concerns, there was work. I love my job. I started to feel rocked with guilt about choosing a job over my baby girl. Again, all before she even got here. These fears and worries were what filled my mind the night before our induction, then in the blink of an eye, delivery day arrived. 

I clearly remember the early morning ride to Hendrick Medical Center. The coolness of the air was crisp, but in a calming way. There was not a car on the road as we drove through downtown Abilene on the way to the hospital. As we passed the empty shops and restaurants of downtown, I thought about the people they would serve and how warm they would be just a few hours later - and about where I would be, where our family would be, how our daughter would be...and I was filled with excited anticipation. 

I savored the familiar moments I had at the hospital. The arrival and greeting at the window. The changing into a hospital gown. The flow of the room.

I thought about the last time we were there. Two years before, our delivery of Luca was so smooth thanks to not only Dr. Tadvick, but also my LD Nurse. I could still see her face in my mind even years later and passively wondered if she was still at Hendrick...and then to my surprise, that same nurse walked through the door for my delivery. The details were falling into place. 

It’s probably odd to some, but I knew I wanted all my ladies in the room. My mother, my twin sister, and my mother in law. There was just something about bringing a daughter into the world surrounded by the mighty women in my life that I knew would love, cherish, and guide her spiritually and physically as she grew up, that made me want them all present to witness her first breath.

Induction started at 7:00am and they broke my water right after. I called for an epidural and received it shortly after. As labor began to build I felt so calm. The more I dilated, the more excited I got. I just couldn’t wait to meet her. 

They called for Dr. Tadvick around 10:30am. The final push was at 11:05am when Libby made her grand entrance. 

I remember looking around at the faces that filled the room as I was pushing and knew everything was exactly as the Lord meant it to be. Her new life pierced my fears and worries. My emotions melted to joy and peace the moment they placed her in my arms.

I imagine that might be what the Father sees when a new believer is born again - their new life piercing through their old fears and sin, just as Jesus was pierced for us. 

Everything was so seamless that morning. Much unlike the day before. The contrast of the two was striking.

Libby Dawn Robertson was born on April 02, 2019 at 11:05am, with a head full of hair - weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.