09/09/09 and the accidental homebirth

It was a gorgeous New Zealand day, it was her due-date, it was a baby girl after a big brother.  The Mum (in Kiwi-speak) had called Jo to say she was in labor. So I rearranged my day to "not be far away." Actually, I went back home to use my computer, as Jo was at the office using the work one. Soon after, Jo called to say that the patient was on her way in, and that she was pushy.  Hmmm??? So I raced off to the Maternity Centre and Jo was heading to her car, but she hopped into mine and told me that the dad had called asking us to come to them.
We went back through town, and pulled into the drive. Dad was holding the toddler and told us where to find her.  She was involuntary pushing in, of course, the toilet room. Remember me saying how small they are and unheated? Anyhoo, within 10 minutes of our arrival, the Mum gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl, standing and leaning over Jo, who was underneath to catch the baby before she had a "waterbirth" of a different sort.
I was by the mum's face, reminding her to breathe, as dad was holding the toddler to keep him calm. All the while trying to hand things to my partner, close windows, get blankets ready, remember to look at my watch to record times, the usual "second pair of hands," jobs.
It was so joyous--Jo's first unplanned homebirth and well, I have been to enough to know these rapid fire births are often the finest ones of all.
After the birth, we pivoted mum around so she was leaning on me, with her bum on the linoleum. She mentioned I was not the best pillow. It was a fun time for me being in the assistant role.  Shortly after the placenta birthed, per Mum request, we wrapped a beach towel around her and put her in my car, and drove her to the maternity centre where she planned to "postnatal stay"as they call it here.
As we were helping Mum out of the car, recess was taking place next door at the school. A curious gaggle of children watched our slow procession from the back of the car, into the maternity home. Mum holding baby, midwives holding a towel around mum, one midwife without shoes on, the other midwife colorfully splayed with amniotic fluid and some blood. It was quite funny really.
Because Miss T came on such a memorable date, the newspaper came out later for a photo shoot and brief article on three Southland babies born that day.
Since dad is the local police officer, I asked him if Jo and I were exempt from any speeding tickets from now on. [Not that I drive fast--ever--even to get to a birth ;-)] 

I was so pleased to attend two births in a row, with happily married, intact, loving families--regular people without a list of risk factors! This is a very nice job...