A Perfect Day
It is here. Moving day. Aug 25, 2020. I am there to help my daughter-in-law move their house to storage. She is 38 weeks pregnant, and their two-year-old is at the sitter. Her husband is off in military training.
At 8:30, all is well. Movers on the way. She tells me she is having Braxton Hicks…period cramps. Oh boy. Movers come and by noon all is packed up and ready to go to storage. Her “period cramps” are mild and intermittent. Yeah, right.
The day is beautiful and sunny. As the movers are loading things on the truck we notice all the dragon flies on the front lawn. Golden in the light and busy hovering around us. It is beautiful…I point it out and then she notices THEY ARE ONLY IN THEIR YARD. Such a sense of peace descends on me.
The period cramps are more often. Her first child came fast…so I am on full alert now…expecting this one to come faster, and I am searching my brain for ways to make it to the hospital…or any hospital if things accelerate quickly.
I suggest we go the hospital, and she says, ”NO”. The carpet has to be cleaned, they will be there at 1:30 pm. The 5 cats have to be moved safely to the hotel, and she says,” you can deliver the baby.” I reply, “yes, but I don’t want to.”
We continue. I go to storage to help (supervise, watch, stay out of the way) while the movers stack all their belongings in a storage unit. The carpets get cleaned. We get lunch.
The “cramps” are a little harder.
I suggest we go NOW to the hospital….”NO, is the reply. It was horrible the first time and I am not going until I have to…” And the cats had not been moved.
I thought, “well she KNOWS her body. I will continue to trust.”
We get the cats safely to the hotel. It is now 4:30, and her back hurts with the contractions.
“Can we go now?”
“No, I need a shower.”
After the shower, then we finally go the hospital. We park in the garage.. it is a long walk to the labor and delivery. She is miserable. We get to L&D. in 5 minutes, she says, “I am not sure if I have to go to the bathroom.” I inform the triage nurse this laboring mamma might have to push.
Magic. They get her back. In 45 minutes, she is prepped, gets her epidural and is 7 cm dilated. ALL this time, this mom remains calm as if this is all in a days work. The baby is born at 7:41 pm. Perfect 7 lbs. The doctor kept asking her how she remained so calm.
Being in the presence of a superstar is humbling. This was a perfect day where trust, patience, calmness, and communication flowed like a babbling brook and ended with a perfect delivery. And the best part for me? I was there. Being present at the birth of a child or grandchild is a moment you do not forget. I have never tired seeing the birth of a baby. One of life’s perpetual miracles.
May you have a perfect day and recognize it.
Dr. Franz
