Prodromal labor is HARD- mentally, physically, and emotionally. With my first, I had prodromal labor like clockwork every day for 2 weeks before she was born. One week before I thought it was the real deal because it started at a different time and seemed to be getting closer together and more intense- the midwife came and it was a false alarm.
This go around I figured I'd know the difference between the real deal and prodromal labor-- nope! I am now a couple of days shy of 40 weeks with my second and I had prodromal labor start at 37 weeks on the dot. I thought it was the real deal because contractions started 5 minutes apart lasting a minute and then got closer and more intense. I was able to continue through the evening and even got some sleep only to be awoken around 2 am to contractions too uncomfortable to lay down and sleep through- they were 2-3 minutes apart lasting 90 seconds. I spent that time listening to worship music and praying over my labor and birth and on hands and knees as it was the only comfortable position. By 9 am they had spread out and got less intense and were completely gone by 1 pm. I felt so crushed... Not again I thought. I had let my birth team know earlier that morning and my husband had taken the day off and my mom had as well to watch my daughter the majority of the day. I felt like I wasted everyone's time and wondered how I could go through possibly weeks of prodromal labor again. Since then I have had prodromal labor every evening like clockwork and thought it was turning into the real deal five times now! Contractions will escalate in intensity and get closer together for hours and then fizzle out. The first four times I cried out to the Lord to let it be the real deal and then I would feel so frustrated and defeated when they would fizzle out. It made me question my faith many times feeling like God does not care or is not answering my pleading prayers in desperation.
However, each new morning I know He is my strength and I need to just surrender, trusting His perfect timing. He has spoken to me so much in the past few weeks as I have wrestled with my faith. It has increased my faith so much and I wanted to share some encouragement and verses that have really spoken to me.
Faith
Faith is built in the waiting! I encourage you to read Hebrews 11. It talks about several different Biblical characters who had faith in the waiting of the promises the Lord had made them- for example:
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith." - Hebrews 11:7
"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." - Hebrews 11:29
James 1 is another great chapter I recommend reading through entirely as it talks about having joy in the trials because it increases faith.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." - James 1:2-8
Discipline
Next, I encourage you to read Hebrews 12, which speaks about discipline. I feel the Lord disciplining me in having patience and fully trusting Him and His timing. I have been trying to "control" when I go into labor- hoping and praying it's on a weekend and then again each time I have prodromal labor that kicks it up a notch making me think it may be the real deal.
I feel so much joy knowing that God is disciplining me because He disciples the ones He loves (Hebrews 12:6) and it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Peace
Now, when I saw Hebrews 13:5-6 I was brought to tears for two reasons. It says
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'” First, before I became pregnant this time, I wrestled with God calling me to stay home with my daughter and serve my family better. One night I was organizing my office and came across a birthday card my thoughtful friend wrote me. She is the most encouraging and thoughtful person I know. She had written down some verses that spoke to her and one of them was Hebrews 13:5-6. I looked it up and felt convicted immediately knowing I needed to resign for sure. Just about 2 weeks later we found out we were expecting this sweet little one who will be here any day. Next, part of wanting to control labor has actually been about money- well most of it actually. If she comes on the weekend, my husband can have a little longer than a week off and not miss any overtime of working a full week, especially with having no paid paternity leave.
Verses that bring me rest
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:4-9
"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."- Romans 12:2
"Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." - Psalm 62:6-8
"and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” - Psalm 50:15
"But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.'" - Isaiah 43:1-3
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6
"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;" - Lamentations 3:25
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." - 2 Corinthians 13:11
Worship Songs
Some worship songs I have been finding rest in are:
- Thy Will by Hillary Scott
- Waymaker
- Sparrows
- Names
- I Surrender
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