The Other Side of the World

It took us from August to patiently piece together the story from her first birth.
By February she was ripe and rounding each silhouette she made with the big boned baby of her anxious husband. And the details of hard, narrow, high, beds, obstetricians gruesomely over-busy, random injections, separation down a long concrete corridor (but I could hear her screaming still, through all that concrete!) and a healthy baby whisked away for an age from a distraught newborn mama. . . well we promised ourselves, surely, with all our hearts, we could hold the space on a better experience.

So, as we do for all our clients – we told her over and over that she was strong, that her body was wise beyond our capacity, that she could bring this baby into her small, delicious-smelling home with all the love and care of two very committed attendants.
Also we ate a lot of that delicious smelling food. Best lunch in town.

Then with the grey breaking of night, we met her in the safe nest she had created upon her bed. Held her and stroked her as she pleaded and demanded of us. Reassured and sat with her. And in the later hours, laughingly proffered her daughter’s lollipop to her for a much needed, much sweeter infusion of energy.

Bringing forth, shortly and with great exertion (and noise – but only one wall’s worth) – a large, calm boy, who immediately consented to the breast he was pressed joyfully against.

I won’t tell you how she thanked us, because I’m not sure I can convey the emotion of it in her english – but it was the most beautiful & heartfelt english I’ve heard spoken. And also the most words, at once, heard from her.

Suffice to say, I was so proud to be part of the difference.

~ in case you’re wondering, I’m drawing up a syringe of 0.2 ml oral vitamin K  for the baby

before

which had the unfortunate consequence of

after

whew. now my mother can come visit.

(just kidding: hi mumma! see you soon!)

further notes:

1) those are just the library books – we have loads more elsewhere (lest you think our child literarily constrained)

2) I claim no responsibility for the presence of Buzz Lightyear

3) She peed in that tub while the photo was being taken

the lovely shirt

the lovely dress

the lovely back

the lovely bum

re-made. lovely.

and taking out the compost. . . no-one else allowed to help, thank you!
(I’ve had school + pharmacology exam all week, give me a minute to catch a breath)

yes. . . we are on it

summer ripening -

a very good season indeed.