Karen's Story

SURPRISE Home Birth

I am the very proud mother of two beautiful blonde hair blue eyed girls, now 13 and 10.

It took two years to conceive our first daugher, Melissa, and one and half years to conceive our second daugher, Sarah.

At one point before becoming pregnant for Melissa we had believed we would not be parents and you cannot believe the yelling for joy I did on the phone the day the doctor's office told me I was pregnant.

In any event, our second daughter, Sarah had a very unusual entrance into this world. She was born at home, on my husband's side of the water bed. My first contraction and delivery were only 37 minutes apart.

I was three days over due when I was awaken on a warm and sunny morning, August 9, 1987 at 5:15 a.m. by a very sharp labour pain. I got out of bed and went to the bathroom and noticed I had a showing of blood. I woke up my husband and told him. I went into the bathroom to put my contacts on and suddenly my water broke all over the floor.

I hopped into the shower to clean off and all of a sudden the baby just dropped and all of a sudden I was in heavy labour and could feel the baby coming. I crawled out of the tub and tried to put my panties on to get dressed - because I knew I had to get to the hospital, but there was no way I was doing anything.

My husband carried me to our bed and said "Karen the head is almost out". I told him "call for an ambulance". At that time there was no 911 and the phone book said to dial Zenith 1000. My husband's saying "how do I dial Zenith 1000" and I'm yelling "just dial 0". The operator thought my husband was just an over anxious father but dispatched an ambulance anyway.

Then my husband is going through out linen closet, throwing towels all over. I said "what are you doing" He says "trying to find a soft towel for the baby to land on". Then he takes his red shirt and goes outside into the street to "waive down" the ambulance. Mean while, I'm lying in the bed, stark naked, heavy labour, wanting to push the baby out.

My husband comes back to the bedroom while the ambulance "parked" and I said "get me something to put on my top please" to which he does.

Two men come into my bedroom, I'm lying there, legs apart, baby's head coming out, they take one look at me and say "your not going anywhere, we will deliver here" (no kidding!).

The paramedic who delivered her was wonderful. They are not allowed to cut or give you any pain killers so this was the most natural birth you could get. When Sarah popped out she did not cry. She opened her eyes, very wide, and looked all around. It was now 5:52 a.m. JUST 37 MINUTES AFTER THAT ONE CONTRACTION THAT WOKE ME UP.

After delivery the paramedics told my husband to get an old bucket or bowl to put the placenta in. My husband brings them one of my good tupperware bowls. There we are, baby just born, arguing over which bowl to use. The paramedics said that the bowl would not be able to be used again.

After delivering Sarah we could not deliver my placenta. We were half an hour trying to get that thing out. The paramedics are not allowed to tug or pull it out. They can only let things happen naturally. Finally, they transported myself and my daughter, cord attached, to the hospital. But before we left my oldest daughter, then 3, came into our bedroom and met her new baby sister and that moment was very special.

While in the ambulance the paramedic that delivered her said "Hi, my names's Randy, what's yours!" He was sweating and very relieved that all had gone well with no complications. Turns out his wife was pregnant too.

Needless to say I was the talk of the maternity ward and envy of every woman that had long, painful labour.

Sarah has stayed true to her rushed delivery. She is not a patient child!