How Mother’s Intuition has deepened our bond

wpid-IMG_20130711_132239.jpg“Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way.” – Florence Scovel Shinn

I believe God has blessed mothers with a very special gift. Do a Google search for “Mother’s Intuition,” and you could spend days reading about this phenomenon. As Mother’s Day approaches, I got to thinking of my own experiences with Mother’s Intuition.

My first pregnancy and birth were, dare I say, a breeze? My obstetrician called it “text-book perfect.” Our beautiful, healthy baby girl was born on her due date and scored high on the APGAR test. The doctor proudly said her birth went so well, we could have had her at home.

So, imagine my surprise less than two years later, when I was placed on bed rest with Baby Number Two. Six months into my pregnancy, I started with complications. Recalling my mother’s advice regarding “call the doctor if you ever see any spotting,” I started dialing. The nurse seemed non-nonchalant, ending with “call if it happens again.” I hung up – very rattled and feeling alone. We were  stationed in Hawaii, and my husband was out in the field on an Army training exercise for a few weeks, with very limited communication. My mother was in Michigan – a different time zone and a six-hour time difference.

Though I couldn’t talk with her, my mother’s words repeated over and over in my head. My gut told me there was something very wrong. Again, I called the doctor. I was truthful when I said I had a second episode, I just didn’t volunteer it was not as serious as the first. An ultra sound was ordered – stat. I had to call my husband’s unit to try to reach him. God was looking out for me, because someone in the unit had returned to the office, and was able to contact my husband, who was released from the training.

My intuition was right. The ultra sound results were not good. The diagnosis was “Placenta Abruptio,” meaning the placenta was detaching before birth. Not too long after my diagnosis, I went into pre-term labor.

For the next few months, I was on medication and bed rest – or in the hospital. Each day I didn’t deliver was a success; each week became a milestone; each month, a moment to breathe.  The amniocentesis showed our baby’s lungs were not developed enough for an early birth.  The last trip to the hospital would be the deal breaker. I made it to 36.5 weeks. We would have our baby early, and pray that his little lungs would be okay.

Meanwhile, back in Michigan, our families were fraught with worry. My poor mother was reliving her own hell, recalling when her last pregnancy became complicated. Our baby sister was born with severe medical defects. Five months later, our baby sister returned to heaven.

My mom was my rock during this time. She encouraged me, always saying, “You have done everything in your power to protect that baby. If something should go wrong, you know in your heart you did everything you could. Do not blame yourself – do not go down that road.” After a long night of monitoring my contractions and our baby’s heart rate, my doctor induced labor, preferring traditional birth for the health of baby’s lungs. I asked for a C-section.

“Doctor Mac, I will be really, really ticked at you if I go through all this labor and I end up with a C-section at midnight.”

Mother’s intuition again? Yes. Because just before midnight, I was prepped for a C-section.

Our son weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 oz., and was 3.5 weeks early, exhibiting classic signs of an early birth. He was the biggest “preemie” in the NICU. Eight hours after he was born, I could finally hold him. And he was healthy, whole and just perfect.

Holding my newborn son, tears rolling down my face, I thanked God I followed my instincts. I thanked God for my mother’s advice.

A day or two after my parents got to Hawaii, my mom shared her Mother’s Intuition story. I still get goosebumps.

On October 27, at 11:55 p.m.  in Hawaii, an incision was made and seconds later, our baby was born. Because of the time zones, it was 5:55 a.m. in Michigan – which happened to be the exact moment that my mother bolted from a sound sleep, sensing something was terribly wrong.

Mom was right – there was terribly something wrong. The C-section was needed, not because I labored too long, but because the cord was wrapped around baby’s little neck. I wasn’t told about this additional complication until after baby arrived.

Remarkably, Mom already knew.

© Lynne Cobb – 2014

Have you experienced Mother’s Intuition? Share your story in the comment section. Also, check out other mother-daughter inspired blogs at Midlife Boulevard.

 

18 Replies to “How Mother’s Intuition has deepened our bond”

  1. Yes, yes! I have had many experiences with, as Miss Clavell says in the Madeline books – “something is not right!” I still do. It’s both the gift and the curse of motherhood. We are never without our children.

  2. Intuition is something real…there’s much we don’t know about the world…mysteries and things that happen inexplicably.

  3. I was holding my breath until I read that your son was OK. Whew. It must have been so scary for you, especially being far from your mother, but I’m glad she was able to support you from afar.

  4. Wow. What a powerful story. I too believe in mother’s intuition and going with what our gut tells us to do. I’m so glad you were listening!

    1. Thanks, Connie. From that time forward, I have always followed my instincts, even if I felt silly doing so.

  5. I too was holding my breath….

    All our lives we rely on our mothers–loudly and/or quietly. then one day they’re no longer there physically but their words and thought seem to loom louder than ever!

    1. Pia, I am truly blessed I can still rely on my mom. And very thankful she encouraged me to follow my gut! 😉

  6. Terrific story with a nice ending. Mother’s intuition is truly valuable, as is our own intuition. It’s hard for me to imagine what women go through with child birth. My most memorable, and scariest, was when our youngest went into fetal distress during labor. I was excited to be in the delivery room as this was going to be the first time I would witness a birth of our child. However, once the fetal heart beat faded, I was quickly escorted out of the delivery room and a C-section was performed. My intuition, as well as my mothers, was that everything would be alright. Thank God that it was. Prayers do work and intuition is normally right on!

    1. So true, Bob. I am so glad your baby was fine, too! Nothing more frightening – or paralyzing – than an infant in distress.

  7. I always know. It still freaks my kids out. Sometimes my daughter will scream, “Get Out OF MY HEAD” at me!

  8. I was on bed rest with my second one, too. But I didn’t have the nail-biting moments you did during L&D. I am so glad that you called the doctor and that your son’s health was OK despite the placenta problem and the cord problem. And kudos to your mom for being so in tune. Happy Mother’s Day (belated) to the both of you.

  9. Pingback: Happy birthday to the best mom everLynne Cobb

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