I must take the time to tell you about three lovely births last week. The first was a water-birth in the portable birth pools from England (which I rent out). It took place in a moshav near Kfar Saba. Contractions were mild, third birth, but becoming frequent, so I knew it was time to head out. Lucky for me there was no traffic. When I arrived, I found her husband filling the pool, and she looked glowing. Then she had a contraction, and was standing up holding on to the table and swaying and singing beautiful music (she is an actress and very talented ). The babies heartbeat was wonderful, and it was a beautiful sunny December day. I examined her and found her to be nearly fully dilated. Wow – fast. A few more contractions, and the pool was nearly full. Then she felt like pushing, and she called her friend to come and film. She got in the water, and next contraction began to push, just as the video arrived. The bag of water could be seen bulging from her vagina. I got on my extra-long water-birth gloves. Three more pushes, and the head was out, and then baby was out, and everyone was in awe of the miracle of this birth. She got out of the tub, birthed the placenta, nursed the baby, and then we all shmoozed and relaxed. Daylight hours — a real treat for me. Friday evening, as I was deciding what to wear for going out to dinner with Asher and friends, Michal calls and says there are contractions, about every 8 minutes. Well, forget about the dilemma of what to wear. Poor husband will have to go solo, but our good friends are used to me not showing up at the last minute. I decide to load the car with my many bags of equipment, including oxygen, and doppler, and other birth supplies. An hour later they are more frequent and stronger, but she sounds great on the phone. I start the drive to Mevaseret, and get there in half an hour. Dear husband is trying to assemble the birth pool, and is doing it upside down. The excitement has made his brain a bit muddled. I explain to him and go to check on Michal who is in the shower, using her new massage shower head. I take one look and I know that she is moving fast. Contractions are one on top of another, and she is breathing well and looking great. I check her — big dilation — 6-7 cm. and the bag is bulging around the head. The plug is coming out and dripping down her legs, and he is trying to get the pool filled. He forgot to cover with the nylon liner. She needs him, so he leaves the hose filling the pool, and is massaging her back as she is standing and leaning against him, and I am getting all the birth supplies ready, looking in their kitchen for a pot for my hot water compresses with oil. Her first birth was a very medical event and traumatic, so I really want this to be a fixing experience for her soul and body. I’ve worried about her all month as it is very important for me to empower her at this birth. Then her water breaks, nice and clear. Then she feels the need to push, and she gets on all fours on the bed, and starts to push. I get my gloves on and in three pushes with her panting as the head crowns, catch this gorgeous baby with beautiful full lips. I pass her between her legs and she brings her to the breast and the love affair begins. She and hubby are euphoric and can’t believe that they just did it. They were preparing for this for months, and it paid off!! He goes to check on the pool, and sees that there is a leak and the floor is a bit flooded, should have put the liner in!! He is busy doing sponga, and we are all very high on adrenalin and birth energy. No tears, despite her episiotomy scar from first birth. Looks like the epi-no training was worth it. Then they call the parents of both sides, who find it difficult to grasp that she is not in the hospital. We are all soooo happy, as this is the birth that they dreamed about, and I hoped for. Much more satisfying than any meal in a restaurant! I get home at 4:30 in the morning. Asher is snoring peacefully after his good meal! I wake up at 1 next afternoon. I feel well-rested and ready for more. The phone rings and it is Mandy finally in labor (she was due 12 days ago), and if she is calling on Shabat, it must be serious as she is Orthodox. Her water broke, but no contractions, and should she come. I tell her that as soon as she has the first pain, get in the car and come, as I remember her last birth was very fast. They come an hour later and her husband comes to my door and tells me that things are really happening. He cannot shut the motor off as it is Shabat, and I go to the car and find her on her side moaning. We go to my clinic, and she is four cm. I have no time to look for a Thailand worker (Shabat goy) to turn off the motor, and I really hope their car will not be stolen. I can’t leave her for a second as she is progressing rapidly and he cannot touch her. He is praying outside the door, and she is breathing and moaning, and I realize that all my equipment is still in the car from last night’s birth. I buzz my daughter to get my car keys and stuff from car. She and her friend come with the supplies (Asher went for his noon nap). The friend is looking like in shock, but my 11 year old explains that soon there will be a baby, and she was also born at home. A half hour later, Mandy births her third baby. I called Sofia (coach who lives on my moshav since her coach was never going to get here in time. She massaged her back while i got ready for the birth. All in all, it was a beautiful birth, on her side, no tears, and a nice 3500 kilo baby, even though she and husband are quite small. Her coach arrived for the placenta, which took 20 minutes, and later did a lovely havdala ceremony. Shabat was now over, so he went to pray and then shut the car motor. It was still there. She stayed the night here and actually is now going home, after a good night’s rest, with the baby only waking twice to nurse. So it was quite a busy week for me, but very satisfying work! I wish you all such great births! Ilana Shemesh