I put my skates on, and drove off in the direction of Tamara’s home. Back down the same winding mountainous road to the same location where I had attended the first birth of the week, was it only 3 days ago? It felt like a lifetime already!
The treatments that Tamara had received earlier that evening, had been incredibly effective and by the time I pulled up and unloaded my gear, she was feeling pressure. After a hasty listen in to baby’s heartbeat and setting up my supplies, I just had time to slip on a pair of gloves before Tamara’s baby boy made his squalling entrance into the world. This was not a first birth for Tamara, but it was her first homebirth and just like the three other mothers from the last three days, she was overwhelmed with joy to just be in her own bed. Tamara’s placenta was a little reluctant to birth, and I had to use a few tricks to get it to relinquish its home for the past nine months. After some effort, it released. Because there had been a fair bit of bleeding in the process and it was still a little heavier than I would have liked, I gave Tamara a shot of Pitocin to encourage her uterus to contract more securely. This medication can be a life saver in the case of a serious hemorrhage, and I carry it with me whenever I am on call in its little cool bag with ice-packs. I stayed with Tamara a little extra time, to watch out for any signs of hemorrhage. Thankfully there were no further issues and I went on my way some time after midnight after ensuring that Tamara was stable, baby had nursed and instructions were given.
After Tamara’s birth, my next clients were not due for over two weeks, so when I finally arrived home, I was looking forwards to a restful weekend after five births in four days. I figured I was done for a week at least!
First though, I forced myself to do what my midwifery mentor had taught me to ALWAYS do, no matter how late it was or how tired I was. I repacked my midwifery bags with whatever supplies I had used that day. And I collapsed into sleep.
Thursday: Surprise! I was woken early the next morning by a frantic call from Abby to say that she was having contractions at 37 weeks, but she wasn’t sure yet and could she call me back in another 15 mins? I was astonished! Abby’s first birth had been three hours from start to finish. She was now having her second baby and I knew I didn’t have the luxury of time like I did with Leah. I got ready super quickly and called her back, to hear sounds of moaning and crying and also “Oh I think my waters have broken, I’ll call you back when I go and check in the bathroom”.
Well, that got me moving like nothing else did! My equipment had been fortuitously moved to my husband’s car (sometimes we switch) and it can move really fast. I really put my foot down on the quiet country roads, overtaking any trucks which had the audacity to get in my way. I got there in double quick time, calling the second midwife to leave her home simultaneously, as I figured there wouldn’t be time to call her once I had arrived.
As I pulled up in the parking lot, Abby’s very unflappable husband came out and said calmly that she was already having pushing contractions! Thankfully they live on the ground floor, so there was no laborious lift to delay me. I parked hastily and dashed in with my oxygen tank and various midwifery bags swinging off each shoulder and arm. The birth pool was set up in the living room, with warm water gushing into it through a shiny new hose. But Abby was in the bedroom. She was roaring like a lioness. Her husband asked innocently if he should continue filling the pool and I smiled sweetly and remarked that I didn’t think that Abby would make it into the pool on time. And lo and behold, 10 minutes after I arrived, out came a precious angel, onto her parents bed (which had been covered and protected in advance). The second midwife, turned up just a few minutes later and we all smiled and congratulated Abby on doing such a wonderful job. We laughed at the half filled pool in the living room. Once again, baby was nursed and checked, weighed and dressed and the placenta was wrapped up and disposed of. After Abby was checked and cleaned up and settled in with her baby, I wrote up my notes and packed up my things once more.
I was off for Leah’s (my second birth of my week) scheduled post partum visit, a drive of over an hour away, to see how they were both faring and do her baby’s heel prick test. Her mentor had advised her against giving her baby prophylactic Vitamin K, given to all babies at birth. Some, more naturally minded parents, prefer to not interfere with their baby’s biology and refrain from giving it. Leah and I had a long discussion about it. In the end, she signed the informed consent that she wasn’t giving her baby Vitamin K. That is her choice to make and I honoured it.
Two of my previous month’s births and three of my current month’s births, all rolled together into 3.5 days, plus the first one during the wee hours of Sunday where I had joined a colleague. It worked out to be six births in 4 and a half days! And they all worked out beautifully. Even though I spent time organizing back-ups incase of overlap, each woman birthed in turn as if the whole week was perfectly orchestrated by The One above. I even got a night’s sleep between each busy day so I was able to focus and concentrate on each woman’s needs.
By late Thursday afternoon, having visited Leah and her baby, I was grateful that the 5 births had worked out so well. Sometimes births go smoothly and sometimes they don’t. Certainly having so many births in one week was challenging to me and also to my family, who hardly saw me at all during those days. Some people see me as a kind of superwoman when it comes to birth, so they put up with my unpredictable and demanding schedule for the greater good of the world. I do feel I have a mission on this planet, to provide safe and professional care for those wishing to birth at home. Wholesome birthing is my passion and I am honoured to realize my destiny every time I go to work.
For part one please click: https://www.sarahthemidwife.com/the-life-of-a-homebirth-midwife-in-the-holy-land/
For part two please click: https://www.sarahthemidwife.com/life-of-a-homebirth-midwife-2-getting-hectic/
I’d be happy for you read my other stories on my website: https://www.sarahthemidwife.com/blog/
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