Gianluca’s Birthday

It isn't something that can be translated into words; almost like a rite of passage, as if I am now party to a great worldly secret

I was recently witness to one of the most extraordinary events that any woman may experience; the birth of a new soul into our world.

At 18:07 on Monday 9th February, the ‘labour phone' rang Angela had given me a mobile phone for which only she had the number. When it rang, I knew that the labour must have started. I had just finished a day's clinic in London and told the mum-to-be that I would call her as soon as I was home, changed and fed! When we next spoke, she was having contractions every 10-15 minutes, but she wanted to stay at home for as long as she felt comfortable. She felt slightly nauseous and a bit teary, so I suggested a single dose of Pulsatilla 200c, which helped control the nausea in a matter of minutes. At a quarter to ten, I headed off to Mayday University Hospital in Croydon.

I arrived when Angela was in the middle of a contraction They were now occurring every 8-10 minutes and she was 3cm dilated. At this stage, I started to administer Arnica 200c every half an hour to help support her body in the intense work it had ahead of it.

The contractions continued to increase in frequency and intensity, and all the while Angela handled them beautifully. She did so well and I was ever so impressed with the way that she seemed to take them in her stride.

Around midnight, Angela started to feel shivery with extreme weakness in her legs after contractions. I decided that Gelsemium fitted the picture well and gave her one dose in the 200c potency. Within 20 seconds the symptoms subsided. She needed a couple of other doses of Gelsemium when these symptoms returned, and in each instance, the remedy worked with remarkable speed and efficiency. All the while, we continued with the Arnica 200c every half hour.

At quarter past three, the pains changed, and Angela reported a burning sensation. I called in the midwife who ascertained that the cervix was now fully dilated. The contractions and baby's heartbeat were now monitored, due to some concerns about the integrity of Angela's scar from a previous Caesarean section. But all appeared to be absolutely fine.

The next forty minutes went by very quickly. Angela continued to cope with each contraction with surprising apparent ease, although they did, of course, cause her pain and she began to feel the urge to push. The delivery was swift although the baby dragged his hand, which resulted in a small tear that had to be sutured later.

At precisely 04:01am on 10th February, Gianluca was delivered: A beautiful baby boy weighing 5lbs 8oz and measuring 50cms from head to toe. He was placed on the end of the bed and promptly urinated with surprising propulsion over his left shoulder! It was as if he was just checking that it all worked! A minute or so later, he opened his beautiful baby blue eyes and looked around at this new world. He didn't seem at all surprised by what he saw! On the contrary, he almost appeared to be remembering it! Daddy proceeded to cut the cord after which Gianluca was wrapped in towels, had a quick cuddle with Mum and was then given back to Dad whilst Angela was attended to. A few minutes later, Gianluca indulged in a very quick 10-second cry. There didn't appear to be anything wrong, but once again, it was as if he was just testing it out! An hour after he was born, Gianluca was put to the breast, to which he took with absolute ease.

I haven't witnessed a birth, since my sister, Georgie was born at home when I was 5. What I remember of that experience is joy, rapture and awe. As a 5-year-old I was not necessarily aware of the pain that my mother may have been going through - at least, I don't remember it - but only that an amazing thing was happening that culminated in me having a new baby sister. Two years previously, I had been present at the home birth of my other sister, Libby. I was only 3 years old then, and yet I remember it clearly. I remember my sister's crown appearing between my mother's legs, and being compelled to stroke my unborn sister's head and ask if this extraordinary being was a little boy or girl. Shortly afterwards, I was presented with a new sister. I'm sure that the joy that I felt on this occasion was far more than that which a child would normally feel if being allowed to stay up way past bedtime!

As a result of the experiences with my sisters, I have grown up without the fears of childbirth that many of my contemporaries harbour. As a teenager, I remember my peers saying that they would never, ever have babies because it was ‘disgusting', ‘painful' and ‘undignified'. I couldn't understand this; all I could recall of my sisters' births was feelings of wonder.

When Angela asked me to assist her in the birth of Gianluca, my emotions wandered between absolutely excitement to extreme terror! Would I be proved wrong with my thoughts on childbirth? Would I realise that my friends at school had been right all along? Were my current (non-homeopath) friends correct when they said that I must be ‘mad' to volunteer for such a job? Would I be able to cope with the huge responsibility? In the end, my curiosity triumphed and any negative thoughts about my own competence were dispelled by Angela's confidence in me and my abilities.

How very glad I am that I accepted the challenge. I don't know if it was instinct, intellectual knowledge or perhaps even past-life memories that were with me in the delivery room, but there was not one moment when I didn't feel I knew exactly what was needed of me at each moment. I seemed to instinctively know when to rub Angela's back, when to be a physical support, when to kiss her forehead or stroke her hair, when to give a remedy and when to leave things alone. I don't believe that this is anything individual to me, but something innately inherent in being a woman. It felt wonderful. Having been through it, I feel as if something has changed inside me. It isn't something that can be translated into words; almost like a rite of passage, as if I am now party to a great worldly secret. Whatever it is, it feels great, and I'm looking forward to the next time!

When Angela honoured me by asking me to assist her during the birth, I had told my fiancé that it would either put me off having babies completely or make me extremely broody! Unfortunately for him, the experience has had the latter effect! Although I have promised to wait until after the wedding before I bring up the subject again!

 

Vicky practises in Surrey and Central London and is very keen to assist other mums-to-be.
tel: 01883 372442
email: vicky@vburley.com