Cecilie had her baby in August – Baby Bo. I was at the birth which was at home (her home). The whole thing didn’t take more than about 5 hours, but what a long five hours. I had tried reading up before hand on what I was supposed to do, but in the end resorted to watching the programme Call the Midwife. Maybe I shouldn’t have started with the first series which is in the 1940s because it was all boiling water and towels. I arrived just after midnight to find Matthew doing the expectant Dad walk (up and down, up and down). The midwife arrived but without her magic bag, then the magic bag arrived, but without the hmm, what was it now, I don’t think we ever found out, but something was missing and I think we all felt that without it, we were lost, but then that arrived too, so we were all ready to go. By this time Cecilie was in Pain with a big P. And the midwife started offering pain killers and all manner of things. My main job at this point was just to look busy, unrolling and rerolling the toilet rolls, that sort of thing. Cecilie manoeuvred her way into the birthing tub, and I came into my own. It was my job to keep the water at the right temperature, and mop up spillage, so even in this day and age I can recommend an abundance of towels and hot water. Fortunately, the baby arrived before the water reached the top of the tub, I’m not sure anyone had thought that one through. Matthew held her hand, and the midwife kept everyone calm. We spent the next few hours transfixed on Cecilie, when each contraction was over, we sighed in relief and just sat starring at her waiting for the next one. Later she actually admitted that she had little sleeps and even dreams while we all sat totally tormented on her behalf. She managed the whole thing with lots of screaming and shouting, an awful amount of pain, but no meds. That’s my girl! Baby was born in the veil which only broke on his way out, so a little bit of magic was at work. Baby was packed in blankets, then someone asked if it was a boy or a girl, baby unpacked and we met our Baby Bo.
