I close the windows for the night and notice the delicious scent of the frangipani flowers from the tree right outside. I inhale deeply and fondly recall the special Blessingway with sisters and friends for my baby's arrival held recently underneath the same tree. Curious to her day of arrival, I drift into sleep.

7:20am...7:30am...7:40am...7:50am...8.00am...8.10am... wow, labour has started and my body is in rhythmic flow with these 10 minute interval, mild contractions. "Second babies come quickly"..yes, but it's early and the feelings are gentle, so I stay in bed. I cryptically elude to Andy that baby is on the move. He's so excited. "Exciting for you..means hard work for me!" I reply, but I'm very encouraged by his joy.

I opt for poached eggs with salmon and leafy greens for breakfast, while the others indulge in the usual weekend - fruit, cream and syrup laden - pancakes. It's a beautiful Saturday morning, fresh from the rain of the past week, so I eat outside, while Dexter and his half-brother and sister parade off to get their fancy cream for pancakes (can you sense my slight envy..?!)

I go back to bed to rest through the next few pulses, then Andy runs a bath for me. The water is soothing and relaxing. It's close to 11am now and I decide to ask my sister to come and hang out with Dexter, Ella and Kelsey, to give me some privacy and space, and to give them some amusement. Then I let my midwife know that I'm in early labour. These tasks done, I return to the steady sensations. Andy joins me, and we talk all things birth! He's been hurrying around for the last hour, wanting to get everything done. It's lovely to have him stop and spend time with me, acknowledging my journey.

My sistern & brother-in-law arrive around midday and take the children to the parklands then swimming. Has this baby chosen to birth into the busy weekend household of people everywhere, or the intimacy of Andy and myself? We'll see.

Andy and I go into the birthing room (our bedroom) to await more action. We read the morning paper and I vocalise through each surge. I notice him reaching for the phone to check the timing of them. We both manage to rest between them, preparing ourselves for whatever lies ahead.

We agree that he should make lunch, then enjoy his delicious cooking while watching a movie, again just keeping relaxed as things progressed. Next thing, we receive a message from my midwife that she's attending another birth on Stradbroke Island..so will miss being with us. What do we do? It's about an hour before baby is born. I try contacting another midwife, but she too ends up being unavailable.

Well, I've always said there's no-one else who can birth your own baby for you, and this is my lesson shouting right out at me. I feel calm, safe and ready. I've had excellent ante-natal care and feel ready and connected with baby. I've also had the unbelievable support of my Mother friends around me, beautiful women who have encouraged me all the way and blessed me in many ways. You know who you are! Looks like Andy and I are embarking on another intimate birth journey together. I've officially declared him to be a midwife now, with his depth of experience! (Though, he wants to be called a mid-husband)

Everything gets closer and closer together..and more and more explosive! I yearn for rest, but there's no time now. My body works extra hard, I shake and feel my entire stomach rippling downwards. "This must be it?" I say with despair to myself. It's so strong, baby and I are working together.

Another one hits! I join Andy in chanting low sounds until suddenly I can't focus and "yaaaahh" I scream the craziest noise.

"Is that it?" I ask, exhausted. "That's just the head.." Andy replies. Far out! Just the head!?! How can I manage any more? That was epic just to birth the head. "Don't worry, that's the hard part, the rest is easy" Andy says, to which I immediately think "how the *** would you know?" But then I surrender to his words and put trust into them. Just in time..the next thing my body is shaking and my uterus expelling strongly..the deep roars again escalate into an all out "yaaaaah" and baby slithers out "plop"‚ (or so Andy says, I'd describe it quite differently!!) It's done. I'm stunned and worn out.

It's a delight to hear Andy behind me gooing and gahing over the baby. He announces to me that she's a girl and that she's absolutely gorgeous. Over and over. I can't move, but am grateful that Andy respects my need to take the time to turn around to meet her.

We enjoy the early, delicious moments together. We don't know exactly what time she was born, we don't know how much she weighs, we don‚t know the size of her head, we don't know how long she is or any of those other facts and figures..but we do know that we did a great job together, intimately and productively and we Trusted Birth!

As we‚ve emerged from the haze of birthing land, we've been deliberating on a name pretty enough for her. In the meantime, she's been Miss Muffet. It‚s our excitement to now announce her name as Saskia Josephine !

Finally, I'm so appreciative of all the support around me, that allows me to spend these early days with her. To my family who keep Dexter ecstatically entertained and feeling important; to friends who have so kindly and generously cooked delicious meals to keep us in babymoon land; to both my midwives for their wisdom along the way, their excellence of care and education and superb support when things were tricky; and for all the encouragement and blessings along the way from everyone! Phew, what a journey.

©Birthtalk2007