Podcast: Download (Duration: 9:03 — 8.3MB)
“God’s ways are perfect, the Lord’s words are flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a rock but our God? God strengthens me with power and teaches me the way of righteousness.” (2 Samuel 22:31-33)
The miracle of our daughter Liya's birth
The pregnancy with our first child, Liya, went very well thanks to God's grace! However, something unexpected happened, and the doctors gave Liya almost no chance of survival. Our fellow believers in over twelve countries prayed intensely for Liya. God allowed this to happen for His glory and our joy.
Questions and fears surrounding childbirth
During my pregnancy, I was often able to take the time to have an intense relationship with God. I had many questions about childbirth, and God gave me answers, strengthened my trust in Him, and gave me deep peace. In this context, two aspects were particularly important to me.
Influenced by my surroundings, I was confronted from the very beginning with the question of why most women today can no longer give birth naturally, and why so many inductions or cesarean sections are necessary. Is the female body no longer capable of doing what God created it for? These two possibilities were unacceptable to me, and I prayed intensely for God's protection and guidance. God sent me answers through other women who had already grappled with this issue and, at the same time, allowed me to rediscover and marvel at the wonder of His creation through His Word! I came to understand that the problem lies not in the woman's body, but in our society.
It's fascinating how God allows a new human being to grow within a woman's body and how this person finds their way into the world. All the processes are so complex and coordinated down to the smallest detail. God has thought of everything and created woman with the ability to give birth! This has given me a stronger trust in my Creator.
The second aspect is the anxieties associated with pregnancy, such as fears about the child's development. I wasn't spared these either. But Jesus gives us clear instructions through His Word on how to deal with these fears and sets us free from them! I was privileged to experience this freedom. God guided me through one Bible passage after another. In addition, I was prayed for.
I must mention that throughout this time God has been emphasizing a particular passage from the Gospel of John: “And whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).
What a promise! Whatever we ask in Jesus' name, He will give us, provided we remain in Him. And that solely so that the Father may be glorified! This deeply moved me, and from then on I prayed that the Father would be glorified through the coming birth.
Hergert family
Firm trust in God's promises
The birth was drawing ever closer. However, our daughter still hadn't arrived by her due date. Since I had passed my due date, the situation had become more tense. The doctor, in particular, was putting on the pressure. Constant checkups, numerous alleged risks that absolutely had to be considered, induction due to insufficient blood supply, etc. It was precisely during these last few days that I experienced God's presence and an indescribable peace. I remained calm until the very end, a calmness I had never known before.
Since I refused induction from the tenth day after my due date, we had to go to the hospital every day for checkups. We got to know almost all the midwives and had countless conversations about faith. The reason for these conversations was usually that the midwives were amazed at how calm and composed we remained throughout.
On the fourteenth day, we also had a consultation with the senior consultant. He told us quite frankly that there were no other options than to deliver the baby by cesarean section the following day. My husband tried to talk to the doctor, but without success. I spoke out against the cesarean section and testified about how God had guided me so far and filled me with deep peace regarding the timing and the birth itself. The doctor replied that if I believed in it, he shouldn't change my mind. Thus, the conversation ended without a cesarean section being performed.
I must add that there was no medical reason to deliver the child any other way than naturally. Both the baby and I were doing very well, and the test results were all clear. Contrary to the doctors' opinion, I also had continuous professional support and care from my midwife.
During this time, we asked the brothers to pray for us and also asked our families and friends to do so. A friend of my husband, without our knowledge, also had prayers offered for us in his congregation. The Lord showed us the following image: a hospital bed was depicted, and suddenly rays of sunlight shone through and illuminated it. At the time, I had no idea how important this image would later become for me.
When Liya saw the light of day
On the eighteenth day, the time had come. Early in the evening, labor began. The birth progressed well until the very end. However, things became very hectic after a change of midwives. When the urge to push began, the midwife instructed me not to push for over an hour, but instead to suppress the contractions, as my cervix was not yet sufficiently dilated.
Having to hold back those contractions was the worst part. But that time, too, passed, and our daughter Liya finally saw the light of day. At that moment, sunbeams streamed through the window, even though the day had been overcast until then. After a brief gasp, our daughter stopped breathing. My husband kept asking why she wasn't breathing. But I was so captivated by the sunbeams that I kept saying to him, "Honey, there are sunbeams!" I knew only one thing, and it completely consumed me: the sunbeams were there, and everything would be alright.
Liya was immediately taken away and given medical attention. After a long time, the doctors finally told us about Liya's condition. They gave her no chance of survival. If she did make it, she would have to live with a heart-lung machine. After much deliberation, it was decided to transfer Liya to the clinic in Oldenburg for specialized treatment.
Late that same evening, I was also transferred there and was finally able to see my daughter for the first time at 1 a.m. She was in the intensive care unit and completely hooked up to monitors. The attending physician explained that Liya's condition was very critical and that we should prepare for a very long treatment period. The doctor also said that reducing her mechanical ventilation would not be possible anytime soon.
The Miracle of Prayers
That was Sunday night after Liya's birth. The only thing we could do in that situation was to turn to God. We asked our families, friends, and congregations to pray for Liya. And the prayers of God's children worked miracles! We experienced this very clearly that very Sunday. Liya's condition improved so much that the artificial ventilation was reduced that same evening.
The next day, the ventilator was discontinued. Liya only needed breathing support. She pulled it off during the night and breathed independently from that moment on. She continued to do so well that after more than a week, we were home with a healthy child! Because Liya had been without oxygen for so long initially, she underwent several tests in the hospital for permanent brain damage. At first, some abnormalities were detected. Before the final measurement, I prayed again, and during this time, strong rays of sunlight shone directly onto Liya in her hospital bed. I was so moved, because God filled me with deep peace once more and told me that everything would be alright! This time, the abnormalities were very minor.
After a few weeks, we had to take Liya to a pediatric neurologist to counteract any potential permanent damage. The doctor was very surprised to find a healthy child and simply remarked that he usually sees children with such a birth diagnosis in much worse condition. The brain function test also came back normal. Thank God!
Our daughter turned two in March of this year. She is perfectly healthy and developing wonderfully! We have been privileged to witness this miracle countless times. God glorified Himself through her birth, for He has the final word.
“And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).
Tanja Hergert
Municipality of Emden