The magic of childbirth

Childbirth is a magical and extraordinary experience.  I know for some it is a frightening and anxious time and for others it is more clinical but for many it is a natural and exhilarating journey.
I come from South Africa where 70% of woman with private health care opt to have a selective cesarean.  It is a worrying figure and is not getting any less.  I respect the choice and feel that we all need to chose what is going to be the best option with the least amount of stress on the mother and baby alike. 
My husband is a doctor, born and raised in Holland and studies medicine in Amsterdam. We lived together in Amsterdam for 8 years and during that time our friends started to have babies.  In Holland childbirth is an extremely nature procedure and from early on in the pregnancy it is treated so.  A woman chose a midwife and unless there are complications she never sees a doctor.  There are 2 scheduled scans and the birth can either be at home (which is very common) or at the hospital under the guidance of the midwife.  Once the baby is born (and this is usually with no epidural or pain relief) the mother and baby leave within three hours to go back home.  The government provide each family with a nurse that comes to the house for 10 days and teaches the family how to take care of their baby, she relieves the family of other duties and even makes tea for the visitors that come to meet the baby.  These are long standing traditions that have not changed in Holland.  Having experienced this, when it came to my turn I was very calm yet excited.

We had moved to Cape Town, South Africa, two months before the birth our first son, Joshua.
I found a midwife (which was not as easy as in Holland).  I didn't read very much about birth but felt that it was a natural process and that I would know what to do at the time.  I felt a strong sense of trust in my midwife and also knew that my husband would be beside me throughout.

At around 3pm I felt the first contractions start and so the excitement began. We took a long walk and played boardgames, we drank tea and counted the minutes between the contractions.  They were far apart and I knew it would be some time still. We went to bed and I slept as much as I could while having contractions every 20 minutes.  The next day we went about as usual and things started to speed up.  The midwife came to the house around 4pm and said I was 6 Cm's and that she would meet us at the hospital (after peek traffic). So my husband had a swim, mowed the lawn and then we took off around a windy mountain pass to the hospital.  By this point I was unable to sit so was on all fours at the back of the car.  I was in a lot of pain but could bear it and kept thinking that each contraction was one less to meeting my little boy.  
At the hospital we went into the active birthing room and I got into the water.  My husband rubbed my back and the labour got heavier.  We were a great team and my husband's calm and loving presence made me calm and able to continue.  After four hours I was able to start pushing and an hour later Joshua was born.  A healthy little boy weighing 3.4kgs.  Maarten phoned his parents and mine to let them know and then I heard a loud cheer from outside the window - they had been camping out, patiently waiting on any news! Joshua was put straight onto my chest and Maarten cut the cord. I got back into the water and washed him and myself. He came back to me and that is where he stayed.  After 2 hours we went home and I kept him on my chest for days after that. It was a beautiful experience and I am grateful that I had no complications.  My two other boys came a lot faster but just as naturally.  I consider myself lucky and look back on the experience with such love and joy.