Daddies

Being a midwife has many special moments that are just an honor to be part of. When else do you watch a husband be so tender with his wife? So supportive. So loving. Encouraging and comforting. Enthralled with his new child... sometimes his firstborn. There are so many moments that are incredible. The other day one of our mothers was laboring in the tub. Her husband was sitting behind above the tub her so he could be near her. Many women want this. They want to know their husband is there, right there. He was. He was calmly sitting behind her. His foot was resting near her since he was above her. During a contraction she would just reach out and hold onto his ankle. Most likely they had talked this over since this was not their first child. She told him she wanted him near. He understood that is what she needed. He was there. He would lean down and whisper a word of encouragement every now and then or kiss or forehead. He softly sang to a worship song... singing life as this new life was being brought forth. So precious.

Sometimes they cry as the baby is born. Sometimes they pray for their wife during the labor especially when it gets really hard or a prayer of dedication or thanksgiving after the child is born. Sometimes they speak words of "help" and courage to their wives. Sometimes they are just there. In my opinion, that is just fine. Recently at another birth, the laboring mother realized her husband was tired. She was asking him to hold her leg with each contraction and he had been up all night and well into the day. He answered, "I'm not tired until you have the baby." He didn't leave her side. I had to encourage him to eat while she went to the bathroom. He chowed down on some nuts and apples the few minutes she was away.

There are so many more precious moments I am honored to witness. It's one of the perks to our work. Thankful.