Well its been 9 long or short months and now its time for that baby to make its way into the world. We want to be there for every second of it. I need 6 pictures of the big day. I would also like at least 3 sentences of storytelling.
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i was reading a book around sunset when i realized i was in labor.
42 weeks of pregnancy, and this was the begining of the end. some people would have messed with nature at this point but for me it was bittersweet. never again would i have this baby inside me, through out her life she will be taking baby steps away from me, on her way to independence. this was her first milestone on that journey.
i was jarred from my thoughts by the phone. it was my mother calling for the 10 millionth time this month. she asked the same old questions she did over and over. i was feeling really cranky.
'are you sure you dont want to go to a hospital?'
-im sure.
'what if something happened? how could you forgive yourself?'
-things happen in hospitals too. birth is not a life threatening dangerous medical event. what if something happened to me as i crossed the street?
'i would just feel better if you were having this baby in a hospital.'
-it isnt my job to make sure youre comfortable with my life.
'well what about your cesarean?'
-what about it?
'what about uterine rupture? i heard that theres a 50% chance you could die from that.'
-not even close. theres a 0.6% risk of uterine rupture and not all uterine rupture is catastrophic or deadly. you might want to put more time into research and less time into harrasing me mom!
then a contraction hit.
'elissa! are you okay!?'
-im fine, its just a contraction. ive got to let you go now, ive got to freeze some dinners and get the kids fed. i love you and dont worry. women have been doing this for millenia. if birth was so risky we wouldnt be here.
'this just isnt the way im used to you know? be safe. i love you too.'
i know she means well, i know most of my family means well but i dont know what theyre thinking bothering a pregnant woman with thier issues.
well i couldnt dwell on it, i had to make positive energy for my new daughter. i went to make some food to freeze. its a lifesaver to be able to just pop something in the oven in that crazy time while youre all getting used to having a larger family. as im cooking i heard aeneas get the door. my sister, dido came over. shes my twin and we like to keep close, she lives in the loft across the street.
'guess who called me practically frantic' laughed dido.
'oh boy she called you to check up on me' i rolled my eyes jokingly.
'oh and dont forget to talk some sense into your crazy head!' we were giggling like little girls when the
next contraction hit.
'oooh so this is it you think?' dido asked.
'this sure feels like the real thing. looks like back labor again too.'
'ooow!' dido grabbed at her lower back making a painful face. 'you do some crazy things for babies!'
'but theyre so soft and squishy and adorable!'
soon we were giggling like little girls again, as she helped me cook.
i was expecting a long slow labor and thats what i got. the baby was deffinitely posterior, and breech even. dido helped with normalizing labor for the kids, she was my lifesaver. she told them that birth is hard work and sometimes when you do hard work you make noises. she told them to close thier eyes and imagine i was trying to push an elephant through the front door. after that there were alot of giggles during contractions. *laughs*
we all took turns cooking and freezing meals until the fridge and freezer were stuffed.
then we sat up talking until the wee hours. i started getting tired and decided to try and get some sleep.
as i slept i felt the contractions getting stronger and stronger until i couldnt sleep through them anymore. i dont remember when dido and aeneas came in but there they were. i had a drink in my face and some nice counterpressure from someone. i was in the fuzzy primal part of labor.
i remember antigone and callisto were there and aeneas was talking to them and i suddenly needed to be in the garden. it was 4 am and i had woken eryx up with my vocalizing. aeneas decided to take the kids down to the kitchen for pancakes.
dido helped take me down to the garden. the fresh night air revitalized me. i was so glad we didnt have room in the house for the tub. we had set it up in the garden. it was perfect.
dido went back into the house to help aeneas clean up after breakfast.
i kept thinking of flowers opening, thinking of all the women before me who birthed. in fields, in caves, out in the open like i was.
i needed to be in the water, i got in the tub.
i dont remember how long i was in there. it was starting to get light. dido was sitting on the side porch
knitting. the kids were playing inside.
suddenly i was pushing. growling low against the pain.
i thought i had some time but i felt pressure. then pain. i was crowning!
i hadnt expected it this fast. dido had gone inside to get some warm towels. the head came, i reached down and felt a cord around her neck. i tried to push the cord over her head but it was too tight so i tried the somersault maneuver. the shoulders slowly slipped out and i pushed her head towards my thigh and she was still posterior! now that i was ready my body let lose and my baby just somersaulted out, i grabbed her with my free hand.
i pulled her towards me and it was official she was a girl. dido came out and yelled back inside that the baby was born.
i relaxed back and looked into her tiny new face. we were discussing names when i felt pushy again. dido ran for a bowl to put the placenta in and i realized it was a head. it was another head!
everyone stood in shock as another little girl birthed into the world. twins again! i was so glad we had filled the fridge the day before!
the sun came up as i birthed the placenta. it was like chaos for a moment but we got us all settled in upstairs in bed.
the kids were buzzing with excitement over thier new sisters.
i still cant believe it.
persephone obelia delpeche
march 28th 6:15am
8 lbs 1 oz
kassia niobe delpeche
march 28th 6:38am
8lbs 2 oz
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