Ivy Salter Chiles
How come it’s taken so long to write something about the birth of our daughter? Well, I suppose it’s not been that long; two weeks to be exact. It feels like a long time, but then that’s something that has become very apparent - baby time is so different. Every minute has become quite precious, both time spent with Ivy and time on our own.
We couldn’t have hoped for a better birth. You spend nine months waiting for the date to arrive, mentally and physically preparing, nesting and talking endlessly about what it might be like when the seemingly never arriving guest finally turns up. As part of that the whole birth becomes quite an intense series of decisions and preparations, none of which you really have that much control over. Although I’m sure that the preparations that Joanna did - yoga, massage, exercises, meditation - helped her enormously and went a long way in allowing us to have the birth at home.
We couldn’t have done it without the help and support of the amazing Brierley Midwives, the home birth team from King’s hospital, especially Katie from the ‘Birds’ team. They were so supportive right the way through, and Katie was such a calm and reassuring presence.
Home births are encouraged in our area because the hospitals are so oversubscribed, but it is still not that common (2% across the country I have heard) and raises eyebrows when you say you are planning it, accompanied by the word ‘brave’. In my view, not at all. With the help of the midwives Joanna felt extremely positive and empowered. Yes we may have had to go into hospital if there were complications, but if the baby is in the right position and things are going well, then a home birth is just so much less stressful.
Not that it isn’t plain stressful anyway, but anything to help keep a relaxed atmosphere can only help.
I’ll never forget the experience, every moment is still vivid in the mind and the fact it happened here in the room where I type makes it feel even closer.
Five years ago I was privileged to be with my Mom as she took her last breaths. On 15 August 2008 I was able to see my daughter take her first. Welcome to the world Ivy.
