{Birth Story} : Leticia homebirth story told by Leah Talipeau her Birthkeeper
Friday 8th September 2023
In the days and nights leading up to it, I kept checking my phone to make sure it wasn’t on silent like it usually is. I was so nervous about missing the call from Leti that she had gone into labour
Leti and I had spent a lot of time together over the past year. For over three months, we spent every day together, our families travelling Australia alongside each other. We’d become like sisters. Over that time, as women often do, we spoke about our birthing experiences and lamented over birth trauma and the loss of the positive birth experience we had both hoped for.
When Leti told me around Christmas time, “I have something to tell you”, I immediately replied, “YOU’RE PREGNANT!!!!!” We were all so overjoyed by the news. Leti spoke about wanting to have a homebirth and how she envisioned it. I was so hopeful that she would have a positive birth experience this time.
Knowing both her and Richard don’t have the support of family here in Australia, I asked if there was anything she needed help with and offered for us to mind the boys if needs be. Rather than taking me up on that offer, she actually asked if I would be there for the birth, and I couldn’t have been more honoured! The most special invitation in the world – to be present at the birth of a child.
When Leti found out they were going to have a girl and shared with us the name, Giselle (or Gigi for short), we were so happy and began counting down the weeks until her arrival. Every day of late August and early September centred around one thing – the anticipation of Gigi’s birth. What a wondrous way to begin your life, to have so many people excitedly awaiting your presence.
2.30am. My phone rang. I practically levitated out of the bed in excitement. The moment we had all been waiting for. Leti spoke to me on the phone, quietly and calmly, telling me labour had begun. I asked her if she wanted me to come, to which she said yes. I crept back into the room and gently roused my 9 year old daughter from her sleep, her face showing confusion and then recognition of what was happening: the baby was coming.
Not only had Leti asked me to be a birth support person, she had also extended this offer to my young daughter.
Leti knew my heart and how much sadness there had been surrounding my daughter’s birth. As much as I knew how important a positive birth experience was for Leti, she also knew how important it was for myself and my daughter to have this experience of birth together. In an act of selflessness, Leti was allowing us to share in her birth to heal our own hearts too, and for that I will be eternally grateful.
On the way to Leti and Richard’s house, our family prayed and sang songs. By the time we arrived, labour was quite progressed. Leti’s husband Richard answered the door and Leti was moving around, not speaking much.
Richard and I spoke and he informed me the midwife knew labour had started, but she hadn’t been asked to come yet. Recognising that familiar inward state Leti had entered, Richard and I agreed it was time to tell her to come as baby might arrive sooner rather than later.
I got some coconut water ready for Leti to sip on through a straw, offered her some snacks and began to rub her back. Richard had set up the birthing pool and all the while the rest of their house, including their two little boys and Leti’s brother, were fast asleep. My daughter helped to get things we requested between sitting quietly and observing it all unfold.
The midwives and photographer arrived quietly, speaking in hushed tones, with Leti now not making eye contact and spending most of the time on all fours next to the couch. I was surprised when the midwives sat back and simply observed and went about their business, allowing me to feel confident in my role of supporting Leti. When a surge came on, I would rub her back and squeeze her hips hard to relieve the pressure. I also rubbed some essential oils on my hands and allowed her to breathe them in. I had put some soothing relaxation music on and it continued softly in the background as Leti laboured. Her body warm and face flushed, I thought about the hard work she was putting in to bring her baby earthside.
There were three midwives including a student midwife, plus the photographer, Leti’s husband Richard, my daughter, and myself. Initially I had been apprehensive that my daughter and my presence might be too many people in the birthing space, but it quickly became apparent that everyone knew their role and quietly went about their business, working wonderfully as a team. This village of support felt like exactly what was needed. Having the photographer Nadia there felt so lovely and familiar. As she is French, like Richard, they were able to converse freely in their native tongue, the softness of the language floating in whispers through the air.
It felt like such a short time before Leti decided to enter the birthing pool. She remained on all fours, intuitively in the optimum position for baby Gigi’s arrival. Richard held her hand and comforted her through the surges, which seemed to be getting stronger.
At some point, one of the boys woke up and Richard went to get him. I went over to hold Leti’s hand, stroking her face and telling her how amazing she was and that Gigi would soon be here. My daughter stood beside me, watching intently. Soon, the primary midwife Gail announced that she could see a head crowning. Richard went to get their other son out of bed so he could be there, and Leti squeezed my hand, pressing her fingernails hard into my wrist. I felt the pressure gather inside of her body and it felt almost as if I could feel her bones creaking.
Richard was with the boys and my daughter helped with them also, as she adores them. They were happy she was there to entertain them. Leti’s brother had also awoken and sat quietly in the corner, lending silent support through the process. Leti looked up and locked eyes with me. I saw for the first time a tiny flash of fear on her face but it was at this moment I knew that this was it. She was doing it! She was birthing her baby on her terms, all with the strength of her own body.
I continued to hold her hand in mine and her upper body in my arms as she began to shudder. I told my daughter to go to the other side of the birthing pool and watch as baby Gigi was being born. She quickly grabbed my phone and recorded the moment that Gigi was birthed into the water and brought up to Leti’s chest.
6.01am. She did it. Leti’s smile was one of exhaustion, awe and absolute relief as she held her daughter to her chest. The joy around the room was palpable and the silence was broken, with whispers turning into broad smiles and conversations.
The boys, Bernie and Ade, welcomed their baby sister with kisses and somewhat gentle pokes and prods. Shortly after, Leti got out of the birthing pool and moved to the living room where she laid on the couch with Gigi, the boys intermittently coming over for cuddles and to examine their new sister.
Richard went to get coffees, hot chocolates and pastries and my husband and son arrived. The kids all played together as the sun rose through the living room windows.
I thought about what a perfect scene it was, kids playing, everyone enjoying a warm drink and discussing the birth and examining the placenta, baby Gigi nuzzled into her mother’s chest. I wondered whether the neighbours had any idea of the incredible event that had taken place while they were sleeping. The miracle of birth.