Trusting God Through Shoulder Dystocia: How Faith Triumphs Over Fear

The Beauty of “No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper…”

It was late and the kids were in bed. I was scrolling on Instagram unwinding from a long day. As I was scrolling, I ran across some reels on shoulder dystocia. I only know what this is because of my most recent labor and delivery with Declan. It was a long 20 hour labor, and then a too long birth. Strange since he is baby number five and he should’ve just slipped out, right? We don’t get to pick how things play out, do we?

I don’t like to talk about it… so know this is coming from a very vulnerable place.

Let’s back up. Have you ever had God show you where he was in the middle of your hardest moments? How he has protected you in different circumstances? Sometimes you may not have even know there was danger? God has shown me that in recent years. As I looked back over specific times, God showed me how, against all odds, He protected me. Some examples are when I was 16 and in Argentina alone, with my ex husband, and even over my childhood… God was there all the time hedging me in. At times it seemed suffocating, but when I would break free and try to do it my way, I would get hurt and come crying back to God. He always willingly cuddled me and has helped me heal. There are always scars from my wondering though. I have learned from these experiences that my ways and desires will only lead me to pain and heartache. His ways and desires for me, on the other hand, lead me through the pain and heartache without a scratch.

God’s protection over mother and baby

Let’s go back to the labor and delivery story now. I didn’t know anything about shoulder dystocia. I’m at the end of my 20 hours of labor ready to give birth. There was a low fetal tone and we zoomed into action. I felt myself float from that moment to the next before everything all the sudden sped up. No cord, and His head was out. But, then, what should’ve been over began to drag back into slow motion. Declan got stuck and it was a very difficult, painful, and long four minutes. Through prayers, tears, and excellent help, by the grace of God, Declan was born.

I was not scared going through it. I was not scared one minute from the low tone to when he was stuck to him needing two hours of breathing help before we were in the clear. Not one minute. Do you know why? God gave me a word about Declan all the way back at the beginning of the pregnancy. He was my reward. So you know why I wasn’t scared? Because I knew he would not die. It is no reward that leads to death. God is not cruel like Jafar in Aladdin where he tried to serve Aladdin an eternal reward of death at the cave of wonders. God is good and kind and generous.

Kyle, the midwives, and I prayed the whole time through that two and half hours of birth and respiratory help. God was there and God answered because when I learned more about shoulder dystocia through those reels, I knew there was no other way both he and I made it through that without a scratch.

Shoulder dystocia risks and faith

Let me tell you what I’ve learned: For the baby, it can be fatal, it can cause clavicle or humerus fracture, it can cause nerve injury that leads to palsies, and oxygen deprivation to the brain leading to permanent damage. For me, it can cause hemorrhaging, major tearing, joint separation, and nerve damage as well. All this because God protected us. We had good care. This is not something you want to go through, especially at home. Thankfully we are not alone!

Trusting God in crisis

So why am I sharing this? Because when I saw those reels and it hit me how much God had protected me and Declan, it turned my mourning to dancing. Before I knew how much we’d been spared, I was angry and upset and questioning things in the birth. I didn’t see the protection there. I only saw the minor pain of the prolonged labor and delivery. It took me seeing the worst to understand just how good God had been, and I have a lot of repenting to do.

The weapon was death, and it was meant for him and for me. But, my God did not fail. It did not prosper against us. The presence of my enemies was surrounding us, but God prepared a beautiful table there. Psalm 23

Be encouraged my friend! If you have to go through waters, He will be with you. You may feel the pain in the moment, but it will not last. Pray for God’s eyes to show you how he surrounds you like a great wall of fire. I was reminded of Jesus in that moment. The weapon for Him was death, and he did die. Ephesians 1:18-22 Yet, God was pleased to accept His offering and raise Him back to life. So walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil because a shadow cannot hurt you. Psalm 23 Death is just a passing through onto a blessed eternity with Him. Rev. 22