|
Abram's Birth
January 21, 2000
Abram, my youngest (fifth) baby was born high up in the beautiful and serene Clearwater Mountains of
northern Idaho. I was 41 years old. A few years of family
changes and responsibilities had taken me away from midwifery practice. We had a very experienced country midwife nearby who would know
what to do. And if she couldn't get there, well, I would.
I was adding a log of old, fallen ridge cedar to the wood stove. The
delicious scent made me feel dreamy. That morning I just floated around
the cabin, making things ready for my new baby and even took a hike in
the snow with Jacob, who was then 3 1/2 years. Big Cedar Creek crossed
our forested acres. Our dear old friend, Melody, was already romping
along the icy water, as Golden Retrievers often do. But when we
starting walking, she kept pressing close to my side instead of her
usual way of running a little ahead and then back to us. Of course, she
knew, having been a mother of many herself.
And then there was that feeling, oh so familiar, of rhythmic vibrations
all through my hips and pelvic area. Yes! This is it! It's today! With an
odd fusion of excitement and calmness rejuvenating my spirit, I threw
an extra blanket in the truck and took Jacob down the mountain to get
some supplies.
We stopped at the little post office first and found a letter waiting
from a pregnant midwife friend who recently moved to Montana. She
wrote that her contractions had just begun as she was writing the
letter. I was happy for my friend and her ninth baby. Her words
inspired an increasing awareness that my own labor had indeed begun.
In the town grocery store, there were knowing looks from several of the long time homebirthers in
the area as I glowed my way through the aisles. Jacob
had his usual happy grin for everyone.
Suddenly, right at the check-out counter, came a real, old-fashioned
contraction that gave need for pause and deep breaths. The folks who
ran the store were mostly related to each other, so comments and jokes
flew while I blushed and said no thank you to the offer of getting
help. Mr. Pankey himself came out from behind the meat counter and
said, "Well, you can have it here but it'll be a little different than
what I usually do." I raised my eyebrows at him jokingly, which made
the poor fellow yelp "oh, no" as he ran back behind the counter.
I was happily embarassed but wondered why my quiet attempts at being
discrete had not succeeded. Well, I thought, at least the other
customers didn't have to know -- that is, until someone got on the
loudspeaker...
Leaving the little store amidst their well wishes and more good-natured
comments, I asked someone to follow my
truck up the mountain and then to go and get the midwife who lived
farther uphill.
About half an hour later, I was curled up with Jacob on a mat in front
of the warm fire, and then "pop"! Good thing there was already a towel
under me. I checked the color of the fluids. All looked and felt
well. Yet I was glad the midwife was on her way.
Giving Jacob a happy hug and warming up the bath were next...then
singing cheerful hymns...then ooooohhhhh....things were already moving right along....
I remember focusing my thoughts on the soft bubbling sound of the creek
outside the window, when the sounds turned to more powerful deep
oooohhh-ings. I was very happy to hear footsteps crunching in the snow
and then soft voices coming near. In came the midwife -- with two women
acquaintances! Shortly thereafter, another friend and her daughter who lived
much farther away, came trotting in not a moment too soon! I was
delighted to be surrounded by tender support, yet surprised as I had
thought the circumstances were going to require toughing it out alone
again.
I knelt and leaned over the bed, ready to receive my baby from womb
into joyful embrace -- just a few more deep tones -- louder -- then --
we all started giggling at what happened next... Little Jacob, in his
innocent helpfulness near his mommy's shoulder, was joining in with "Mmmooooo...Mmmooooo!"
Well, laughing did make it hurt some but I wouldn't have traded that
moment for anything.
Then more intense. All became serious. My bones in front felt creaky
this time around. I reached down and held my baby's head for a moment --
somehow that seemed to be the only way to get him past these old
bones. "I don't remember this being so hard to do...oooohhhhh....", I
moaned. "You can do this", was all my midwife said and all I needed to
hear at that point.
I thanked God, the midwife, the women who helped; I thanked little Jacob for being such a wonderful moo-er. And I thanked my baby for coming into our lives.
What a joy and relief to finally hold a bright and happy Abram in my arms! Jacob gently presented his little brother with a soft kitten dolly. We curled up to caress our new joy together and welcomed Abram...while we listened to the creek, bubbling its delight along with our sweet baby.
copyright 2008 - 2009
MORE BIRTH STORIES
|
|
|
|
Eden Birth & Wellness
Midwifery services
in rural southwest Idaho
For information call
(208) 477-4340
Email
|
|
 |
|
|