God redeems

No pictures with this post, but oh! what a day!

I loved doing this birth with Sorani! (see http://www.compassionatemidwifery.com) First birth of the year, of the decade! (For me, of course!) I had planned to do it with April, but she was in Missouri. Sorani basically arrived at 6:50 am and "held the fort" for me until I could get there at 7:43.

Barbara (name changed) called me at 4:20 am -- actually she texted me. Contractions had awakened her at 3 am, and were 5 to 10 minutes apart. She got up and they promptly went to every 5 minutes. I couldn't decide whether or not to go, because she had had some prodromal (read: preparatory) contractions the day before. I didn't know if it was the real deal yet. I finally decided to come, thinking I would hate to miss the birth because of indecision. It was a 3-hour drive from my house. I decided this at about 5 am, and I was on the road at 5:20 am, following a text from Barbara that contractions were now every 3 minutes. I called Sorani to give her a heads up.

Chris (name changed) called me about 6 am to ask where the Chux pads were. (In the birth kit.) I asked him then if Barbara wanted Sorani to come on, since she was just 35 minutes away from their home. Barbara wanted Sorani, so she got ready and went.

I was close to downtown Dallas when Chris called and told me that the baby had been born! I was a little surprised but not much, then I asked if the baby was breathing. He said yes, then said that Sorani was there. As close as I can guess, it was 7:15 am. I didn't know it, but he was joking!! The baby hadn't been born, but I believed him! I slowed my speed down from 70 to 60, and cruised in. Chris asked me to pick up some breakfast at McDonalds on the way in, so that's what I was going to do. I was disappointed, but accepting of the fact that I hadn't made it. I hadn't missed a birth since I was a student nearly five years ago. I hate missing births!

Chris called me again at 7:38, just as I was nearing the exit for his house, and he told me not to stop at McD's after all, so I headed straight for the house. Chris opened the front door for me, and I made some remark like, "Babies come at the perfect times, don't they?" As I went into the hallway, Sorani said, "Better get your gloves on!" and Barbara said, "I can't do it. It hurts so much!"

I was mystified. Was Sorani wanting my help with the placenta? Why was Barbara in such distress? It finally dawned on me:

Baby Mia hadn't been born yet!

Chris had been pulling my leg! I couldn't believe it! I had arrived in time after all! (Sorani got gloves for me.) I felt like Scrooge did when he realized that the Cristmas Spirits had done it all in one night, and he hadn't missed Christmas after all! Oh joy! Even Barbara's screams couldn't erase the smile from my face as I checked her -- cervical lip, bulgy bag of waters, rupture membranes and start pushing, girl! She kept saying, "I can't do it, I can't do it!" as she was doing it. She was very loud and very negative. It was very hard to talk over her and to help her, but pushing only lasted nine minutes, and then her screams changed to, "My baby! My baby!" She didn't tear, she didn't bleed, and postpartum was without incident. God redeemed this day:

Five years ago to the day Barbara had her first baby by Caesarean.

Today she had her first unmedicated, uncut HBAC (home birth after Caesarean).

It was wonderful! Thank you, God.