The short version of the birth story because man, I haven’t been updating!

Eliza Jane

Originally uploaded by AdaSaab

For the birth of Eliza, it was arranged that there would be one person to be with Franklin while I was in labour (my mother-in-law) and then my mother (doula) and Dickson with me. We weren’t sure if we were going to do the home birth or a hospital birth until the last few weeks revealed I was positive for GBS and I wanted a hospital birth for observational reasons. Regardless, I wasn’t going to assume that Franklin wanted to be with me at home so I wanted to make sure he had someone else to “hang with” while I, breathing low, slow and ever so gracefully, laboured through the night.

The evening my mother and father arrived my water broke with an audible “pop”. I woke up my dubious partner from his comfortable sleep and then took a nice long shower. My labour started the same way as with Franklin; steadily increasing with intensity, but nothing unmanageable. The only difference was that the contractions were more intense. In the end, Dickson had very little time to catch Eliza. She shot out like a cannon. In fact, she came out so fast that her head looked as if I had a caesarean. She also had quite a bit of trouble coughing up residual mucus, something that also tends to happen with caesareans, as the baby doesn’t squeeze it out while going through the birth canal – makes for a few scary first days while she choked and stopped breathing every once and awhile… (ack).

Out she shot and then once he tried to place her on my chest she only came to my belly. Her umbilical cord was too short to go any further. No wonder she was head down since I was 18 weeks pregnant. No other option!

Anyway, it was a wonderful birth. Two midwives, my partner, my mother and… my father who was called in while my leg was way up in the air and I was mid-push. Poor man. He was waiting outside the door and my midwife thought hey! He’s here! Ada? Want your father to come in?

“Sure!”
The look on his face… he thought that the baby had already been born.
Har.

However don’t get me wrong, it was incredible special to have all of those people in the room with me. I think if I ever give birth for a third time I’ll bring in my entire family, Dickson’s family, Franklin’s classroom and any co-workers and friends who want to stop by. We can serve beer and nachos and have the game on in the background.

and you’re invited too.