'Our Midwives'

We had 2 of our same Midwives that we had for our Angel Jack's birth last year, Lisbeth & Julie...

I remember calling Lisbeth when we found out we were expecting again, and she was just so happy...  I always had my doubts and was so scared throughout the first initial months, worrying whether our new baby was going to have the same 'kidney disease', but Lisbeth & Julie were just so supportive and kept us positive at all times...

The support given to us was just outstanding...  Such total commitment to us throughout everything...  We remember so clearly the 20 week scan when we had the devastating news that our new baby had the same disease 'ARPKD'...  The sadness we also felt for Lisbeth & Julie, knowing that another little baby that they were to deliver, was going to be going to Heaven...

As parents, knowing that our baby was going to 'go to Heaven' was indescribable, but then we also thought about Lisbeth & Julie and the pain that they were to also go through again...  'Losing' babies at birth is not the way it should be, and especially as Midwives, delivering these little angels, also causes such heartbreak and pain...

Throughout the entire pregnancy, both Lisbeth & Julie were 'there' for us, at any time, day or night, regardless...  This was such a blessing, especially as the birth came closer...  We knew that when we needed them, they would 'both' be there...  Total 'unconditional care'...

It was Lisbeth & Julie that first mentioned to us about having a 'home birth'...  When we knew that our baby was in the 'cephallic', (head down) position from our scans, it was then they gave us an option of delivering our angel in our own home...

'Nothing' sounded anymore comforting than delivering our sweet angel to be, in our own home, with just our children Sophie & Ben and Andrews Mum with us...  We went ahead with arrangements for the home delivery, although we were told that if we changed our minds at 'any time'  then we could just go straight to the hospital if that is what we wanted...

Andrew and I started to think about what kinds of 'alternative pain~relief' were available as I thought that maybe the regular 'gas & air' would not be enough for me, but we needn't have worried...  Throughout the labour, I needed 'no pain relief' at all...  Just the comforting words and full support of our Midwives got me through...  I think being in our own home helped tremendously also...

I called Lisbeth at 3.30am, early hours of the Tuesday morning, and she came immediately... Lisbeth sat with me in our lounge, while I left Andrew and the children sleeping upstairs and supported me through those next few dark hours, until the morning...

Throughout the contractions, through until I was fully dilated, was managed by a couple of warm baths and just walking about our home...  Lisbeth & Julie allowed me to cope with my contractions alone, as that is the way I could handle them, although they kept a very close eye on the way things were progressing throughout the labour, the pains were subsided by just 'words of comfort' and 'full support' from them both...

Even through the later stages of labour, it appeared in a strange way to be just like a 'normal'  family day at home, having coffee, talking and playing with our children...  The contractions were obviously very painful at times, but with 'inner strength' and support from our Midwives, and knowing that our children were close by, I coped with them, without the children actually knowing what was happening...

When it came to about 12.45pm, I just knew it was time to deliver...  Julie came in to the bathroom where I was just having one last bath and said she thought it may be 'time'...  Lisbeth was busy arranging the bedroom, making sure everything was prepared!  It was within the next 30 minutes that our Samuel was born...  I had a little of the gas & air at that stage.  This was the first pain relief I had taken, and with hindsight now, I think it may have been more so from being 'scared' and 'confused' than for the pain...  It was during those 30 minutes that the 'reality' of our baby's birth, set in...

The dedication and support throughout the actual 'birth' was unforgettable...  Words of support and comfort filled the room.  Our Midwives gave us 'everything' in their power, to give...

As soon as our Samuel was born, I asked Andrew to hold him, and within seconds of his birth, he was crying in Andrews arms...  and just a few seconds later,, he was then in mine...

Lisbeth & Julie then started to take photos of us holding Samuel...  I was so in love and so distraught at the same time with our little new arrival, that I didn't even know the photos were being taken...  When we received them back from the developers, they are the best memories that I will ever have of our baby's birth...  They were beautiful...

Lisbeth & Julie stayed so strong for us...  They did everything for us on that day, regardless...  As soon as Samuel was born, they called our Vicar Chris and he came immediately to baptise Samuel...  It was then that our midwives tears fell too...  Their sadness and pain will be felt by us too, always...

Julie then gave Samuel~Jack his first bath...  A memory I will cherish forever...

All I can add now at the end of these few words, is to give our most heartfelt 'THANKS' to two of the most wonderful, caring and compassionate Midwives we have ever had, who delivered two of our most precious little angels' for us, and who will remain a big part of our everyday lives...

Thank you for giving us strength, for providing us with total support, care & love throughout...