JUST ANOTHER EXTRA-ORDINARY DAY
The birth of ‘Dante Marcus Antonelli’, as seen through the eyes of Aunty Faye
I received a phone-call at 0718hrs from your mum (my sister Robyn). It was a beautiful crisp autumn morning … the sun was starting to peak its head up above the horizon. I remember it clearly and thinking, ah … at last we were going to meet you. You chose family day to be born, just like your cousin Matt. The day unfolded in quite a similar manner. It was to be a most ‘extra-ordinary day’.
Mum had started getting contractions at about 5 minutes to 7am. They were coming every 5 minutes. I knew she was going to have a quick labour, as her last one (Carissa) was so quick. So, I quickly had a shower while I thought about what to do with all my kids (your cousins Jarrod, Mel, Matt and Kathleen). I arranged for them to go and have a play-over at the house of one of their friends. The Iagallo family also has four kids, same ages as mine, so they would all have a friend to play with. I knew they wouldn’t have to be there for too long! I woke the kids up and made them all get dressed and have breakfast as quickly as they could. I rang your mum back, to see how she was going. The contractions were now coming every three minutes and she had had a ‘show’. I knew I’d better get going quickly. I dropped all the kids off on the way to your house … the little old farmhouse out on the land, which is to become home to Perth’s first ‘Eco-village’. The house was built way back in 1890 and it is a very crooked little house. Mum and Dad and your two sister’s had just finished moving into it 4 days prior … on Easter Saturday. It was a rush, because we all knew you’d come early and they wanted to be there in time for your birth. I think you waited until Linda Tully (your Midwife) had had a chance to find the house in daylight – which she did for the first time just the afternoon before your birth. It would’ve been very hard for her to find the place in the dark, had you chosen to come at night time before her first visit there. You obviously wanted her to be there and not to miss it.
So I drove there, in excited anticipation to your house, taking in the smells and the scenery of that lovely fresh autumn morning. What a great day to be alive I thought to myself …and an even better day to be born!!
I arrived at the house at 8.30am to find your mum in the shower, labouring beautifully. Meanwhile, Dad was in the kitchen getting breakfast for Tessa and Carissa while munching on a piece of toast. He offered me some too, which was nice because I was too excited to eat at home and worried I’d get there late if I took too long. I joined Mum in the bathroom, munching my toast. She was in good spirits (between contraction); just disappointed that the bathroom was the only room in the house they hadn’t painted before moving in!! Spending all that time in the bathroom at least gave your Dad a chance to find all the broken bits that needed fixing!! Tessa sat quietly on the toilet seat, waiting for all the action. Carissa came and went as she pleased.
Soon after, Linda arrived with all her bits and pieces for the birth. She set up in the lounge-room, as your Mum decided she probably wouldn’t like to have you in the shower. Dad, Tessa and Carissa went about busily getting the fireplace ready to warm the room. Your sisters are very good at preparing the fire. They didn’t light it yet though, as we didn’t want to leave it unattended.
At about 9.30am your Mum decided she’d had enough of the shower and wanted to move into the lounge-room. We could see she was getting ready to give birth. She was in Transition (at that point where she didn’t want to do it anymore). That’s a good sign, because it means that the birth is close. On the way inside we stopped to lean over a chair. Mum’s friend Laura rang by chance and found out that you were coming. She got very excited. Once we moved into the lounge-room, the fire was lit. A mattress was placed on the floor with plastic and towels over it. It was a comfy spot for Mum to rest.
Things were moving along quickly. The girls took up positions on the couch where they could watch you being born. Tessa was practising her skills as the official birth photographer. If some of the photos are at funny angles … you know who’s responsible!!
Your Dad decided he would like to ‘catch’ you when you came out, so as the moment drew closer, he moved in ready. Your Mum was doing such a great job. It’s really hard work being in labour. It’s like running a marathon. Mum kept visualising you coming out into the world … nice and gently … and that’s exactly how it happened. First we could see a mass of dark hair. The girls got really excited. With each contraction we saw a bit more of your head … until … POP … out it came!! Mum was leaning over the couch. Dad was kneeling beside her on the mattress with his hands out wide ready to catch you. Tessa and Carissa were right behind, watching it all in awe. Linda was quietly watching and directing your Dad as to what to do and I was beside Mum, whispering to her about the magical moment. She reached down and touched your head. It’s such an exciting moment to feel your baby’s head for the first time. It gives you the energy to get through the rest of it. It took a while for your body to be born because the umbilical cord was wrapped around your body. I think you must have been ‘bungy jumping’ inside Mum’s tummy!! After several contractions and a bit of cord unravelling, the rest of you burst out into the world into Dad’s waiting hands. You were born at 10.06am on Wednesday 23rd April 2003 after only a three-hour labour. You were born at home with all your family around you by the warmth of the fire. You were the first baby to be born at the Eco-village.
As soon as you were born, Dad passed you through to Mum so she could see you. It was such a joyous occasion. The miracle of birth never ceases to amaze me. We all sat there looking at you for what seemed like ages. You looked up at us all – lying on the rug on the mattress. It was so nice to finally meet you.
After a while, Mum picked you up and cuddled you to her. She wanted to try breastfeeding you. It was a bit tricky because the placenta was starting to separate. So Mum had to birth the placenta (third stage) before she could get comfy. First the cord was cut, which your Dad did with Linda’s directions. Then Mum stood up and allowed the placenta to come away with a little push during a contraction. Mum sat back down to rest and we all had a look at your placenta and membranes. We wanted to see where you had been hiding for the past 8 ½ months (you were two weeks early). Everything was the way it should be. The cord was checked to make sure it had three vessels in it, which of course it did. So everything was normal. At about that time the phone rang again. This time it was Judy ringing to speak to Dad about Eco-village business. She became the first person outside to hear about the birth. She certainly felt very honoured, as you were only ten minutes old at that point!!
As soon as Mum was ready, she sat back on the couch and began breastfeeding you. After a little bit of fiddling around, you latched on and fed very well. Mum was shivering a bit, which is normal after giving birth, so we covered her up and gave her a cup of hot milo to drink. We all decided that a cuppa was a good idea, so we all had one, even Tessa!! Carissa wanted juice. While I was getting the kettle on, Vida rang. She’s another really good friend of your family. So she became the second person to hear of your birth. I tell you, the phone runs hot at your house!!
After we’d all had a drink (including you), your sisters got to cuddle you and we took a photo of them. Then we decided it was time to weigh and measure you before Mum had a shower. Linda had been at another birth the day before and the sling part of the scales needed cleaning. They’d been left hanging on the line at her house, so we had to compromise and use your baby sling to weigh you in. I guessed you’d weigh 7lb 10oz, and guess what … I was absolutely right!! In grams you were 3475gms. Not a bad guess eh? Your length was 52.5cm and your head circumference was 35cm.
Meanwhile, as you were lying naked on the floor, waiting for me to put your first nappy and baby wrap on, Gran and Grandad arrived. They got there just in time to see your beautiful little newborn body, before you were all wrapped up!! They were so thrilled to see you. Once you were wrapped up, Gran and Grandad got to hold you while Mum had a shower and freshened up. She put on her nice warm flannelette PJs and then snuggled into bed with you. She gave you a really good breastfeed and you sucked really well. Mum got some pretty strong afterpains and needed lots of rescue remedy and arnica. I promised I’d bring my hot water bottle with me when I came back later, to help the pain.
Mum was very tired after the birth, as you can imagine, and so were you. We decided it might be nice to bring the girls back to my place for a little while to join in with ‘family day’. That way Mum and Dad could have some quiet ‘bonding’ and resting time with you. So the girls gathered their things, kissed you, Mum and Dad goodbye and we headed off for the day. I hear you had a wonderful day and so did we. It was a day for celebration. That evening I brought the girls home, all ready for bed, along with the hot water bottle I’d promised. Your cousins Jarrod, Mel, Matt and Kathleen came to see you and all thought you were so beautiful. We only stayed a very short while so we didn’t disturb you all. After we left, I hear Tessa and Carissa spent the first night snuggled up in bed with you and Mum and Dad. What a day!!
What an Extra-ordinary day it was!! I feel so privileged to have been a part of it. Congratulations on a wonderful birth and welcome to the world ‘Dante Marcus Antonelli’. May your life be filled with love and joy.