'Hello World'

'It's A Head!' I exclaimed to both the Triple 000 operator and to my partner who was deep in labour, Ms L. 'I see a patch of hair!', I said, and with that, the final stage of birth was well and truly progressing...at home.

When you get told that things don't usually go to plan for labour and birth, what comes to mind is caesareans and medical interventions, but our story is a bit different.
We had a birth plan, well researched, well written, but as you know about life, it doesn't always go to plan. Ms L and I decided on a natural birth, which means we would have our child in a birth centre. There is a couple of centres available in Melbourne, and we were chuffed that we were able to book into one.

We also spent considerable time looking for a doula to help support us on our journey. We found a special woman who is an exceptional doula. We also knew our written birth plan was not set in stone. We both also understood that plans can go to shit and if a natural birth didn't occur, and problems crept in then a cascade of interventions may happen (we didn't want that scenario)

On the said day, Ms L's water broke and after coming home from a function, she called me first, then her bestest friend and then our Doula. After much discussion on the night, we didn't call or visit our hospital until the next morning. This story as it occurs, out will be told in much greater detail.

Yet a set of events transpired that ended up with our darling daughter being born at home, on the lounge with an ambulance on the way. I was a 'midwife' (a term I use VERY lightly as I have NO medical training) and a guy on the other end of a Triple 000 call who helped our baby come into the world. I will find out who he is one day and buy him a scotch. Miss G came into the world about 26 hours after waters breaking and with Ms L having an absolutely incredible labour experience and I was a stunned father delivering our bundle of joy.

I got an idea about how different becoming a parent can be from what we read and learn comparing to what happens in life. And I still don't have a bloody clue! Hence this blog was born to try and make 'sense' of it all and share with others what I have learned and experienced on the way.