October 2020

Mummy number 8 contacted me through her consultant, as they were looking for someone to help them navigate during pregnancy and be with them because they felt alone. German mother, a thin and tall German lady, and a smart Sri Lankan father, working in finance.

They were only 27 weeks and with Covid-19 restrictions forcing them to work from home, enjoying each other and especially the pregnancy. We met on a few occasions and I was able to point them where to look for information and resources in preparation for life with their new baby. She really wanted to give birth in the water, and since the pregnancy was low risk, there was no reason not to try.

On D-Day they called me in the morning to say that her water had broken at 8am on their way to have breakfast. I advised them what to do and around 2pm they called again and asked me to come, as the pain intensified. We stayed at home for another 3 hours, the father-to-be looking after her with giving massages, food, getting a hot shower ready and a hot water bottle.  I just had time to have a coffee and then we went to the maternity hospital by taxi around 5 pm.  At 7 pm she entered the pool and at 8.48 pm gave birth to a healthy baby girl; the first birth in the water for her lady doctor, who was excited about how beautifully it all went.

Chloe or Zoe were two possible names for this baby in the delivery room, but when I went to visit them at home the third day after the birth, it was Olivia. The situation with Covid gave them time to gel as a brand new family, and even though the extended German family cannot visit, they enjoy parenting as much as they can using technology to communicate with the relatives.

I was at the birth of yet another family – isn’t it privilege?

Rennie