New Years Eve has been quite busy so far.
I had a woman due to birth on the 1st Jan. So this morning at 9:30 she phones me to say that her waters have broken. I get to her house at about 10am to check everything. Waters clear, baby’s heart rate 135-145 mum says she is not having contractions, however when I feel her tummy I did feel a couple f small contractions. We chat for another hour or so going over her birth plan. She has 3 other children all planned homebirths 6yo 4yo and a 2yo. Mum wants the 4 year old to cut the cord, and mum wants to catch the baby herself. She is also planning a waterbirth with all the children present.
A little before 3:30 I get another phone call. Contractions are quite strong and she would like me to attend. I arrive at her house at 3:45pm to find mum in the bathroom leaning against the sink. After I check her out she asks me if it is ok for her to get into the birth pool I of course said yes. Contractions are strong and coming every 3 minutes. Her 3 children are present as is her mum and a close friend, dad is still working in the field. At about 4pm I suggest that dad should be phoned if her wants to get here for the birth he arrives at about 4:15.
At 4:40 mum says to me I’m sorry but I just had to push a little during that contraction. I tell her to follow the lead of her body. If it is telling her to push then that is what she should do. Mum checks herself and says that she can feel something hard just inside her vagina I tell her it is the baby’s head. Mum asks if I need to do an internal and I tell her there is no need for that the baby will be in your arms soon.
5pm Baby girl 8 pounds 10 ounces born in water at home. Placenta birthed at 6:10pm The 4 year old decided that she did not want to cut the cord so the cord was cut by the 2 year old. (with a little help from me)
7:10 All the family sit down to dinner (silverside and white sauce)
I told mum that she should try to stay up until midnight as I have arranged for a firework display to welcome her baby into the world.
Wow Alan, thanks for sharing that experience with us. I have never heard of a sibling cutting the cord - how beautiful. I will have to keep that in mind for next time
What a wonderful story. I did have to smile at all the family sitting down to eat Silverside for dinner. Could just imagine "oh honey can you turn on the silverside while I birth the baby" LOL.
what a beautiful story!
I cut my sister's cord when she was born at home...I was age 7 - I remember it to this day! I thought it looked like a squid tenticle
Wow Alan thanks for sharing I also am one who loves to read ur birth stories I loved that she had all her kids there watching and that the youngest cut the cord
my oldest was at the birth of her brother and next time she will be there again but I want her to cut the cord
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