Hollywood and Homebirth

I attended a home birth last night.
The couple is not your typical
couple.
They're in the movie business.
Like, so in the movie business
that one of them is nominated
for an Emmy
right now.
So how cool is that? Way.

And no, I can't name names.

But this has been an eye-opening
experience for a small town
girl like me.

The Prenatals were
unusual for me.
They came in like
well, like most
high-powered California couples
attitudes that you don't see much
in this little town.

Mr Wonderful's brother
"Zippy"
lives in CA.
and when he comes to visit us
it takes him 3 full days
to wind down
in our home.

This couple
was like
that.
Places-to-go,
People-to-see
kinda people.

It was at times
intimidating
and
comical...
they didn't know,
nor could they know
that
their world
was about to
outgrow
any place
any other person
any time
or agenda.

For Dad, the waiting
was just so
long
...
he had a movie trailer to do...
so many things are on hold
until this baby is born.
He didn't know that time
was going to be
suspended.


Birth is a great equalizer...
when we arrived
Mama was quiet
focused
amazingly in control.

Dad was
happier than I've seen him--
excited
pacing
sweating
so focused.

The other midwives
and I
followed Mama upstairs.
Dad was right behind.

Mama got in the labor pool
and ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
there goes her shoulders
as the warm water caressed
her body
and mind.

Dad's cameras are all over
but he's not clicking them.
He's whispering in her ear
comforting words--
he's not in
L.A.
he's in her head
and she is loving it.

Classical music is playing
and noone is speaking
above a whisper...
we dont' want to
disrupt the mood.
It's just perfect.
Better than a movie.
In fact,
I wish every woman I know
could've been there
to witness her relaxed state
almost dozing off between contractions.
It wouldn't have made a good movie
tho
because there was nothing to see.
It was too calm
for the masses...
people wouldn't pay
to see this...
there's no script
no flash.

The baby is born--
Mama asks
"Is it a Boy or Girl?"
She peeks and says
"I can't tell!
Wait!--it's a Girl!"

She'd wanted the surprise at the end.
All of the midwives have known
for months.
And that is a hard secret
to keep!
Whew! for relief!

As the two
become
three
I notice the
absence of "L.A."
in them both.
Their countenances are bright
and calm...
I see
Just two very brand new
parents asking the same questions
I remember asking when I had my firstborn:

"Is she okay? Is that normal?
Is that good? What does that mean?
When should I do that? What else?
Tell me what I should know!"

After the birth and Mama is resting
I ask her what she wants to eat...
this woman who has travelled the world
and could have anything she wants--
asks for a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich
with a glass of milk.
My kinda gal.

While eating
she praises my PB&J-making abilities...
so gracious
so grateful.

I ask Dad if I can get him something to eat...
he asks for the same thing.
Really? A PB&J?
Wow.

Somehow, we're all family
now... in this suspension of time.
The intimacy of birth
does that.

Later Dad goes downstairs
and plays the piano
beautifully...
the music fills the house.
Mama hears him
and serenely smiles
as though she'd just received
a gift.

Dad holds his new love.
His heart melts in her
tiny fingers.
"She's amazing."
His eyes see nothing else
his ears are primed
for only his
daughter.
His heart tells him
this is the best day
ever.
Oh he's toast.

After eating
Mama is resting
feeding the new Princess
who will undoubtedly
travel the world
in months to come...
but her journey started here
in a little
town
on the East side of the
Rockies.