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Savanna Carmen Goodman

Although Michael, my husband, and I didn't decide for sure when we wanted another baby after our little girl Ariana, we didn't decide we didn't want one and so kind of left things to chance.

I was breastfeeding Ariana and must have fallen pregnant when she was five months old because by then I was supplementing some of her mealtimes with formular. That was fine. We were delighed and shocked to discover we were pregnant again. The first thing we did was talk about finding a bigger place to live in.

The pregnancy at the beginning went fine. Thankfully nothing untoward happened, except I had a little bit of bleeding (really minimal) near the beginning and got quite worried. After an ultrasound scan I was placated that all was fine with the baby, and was told then that it appeared the baby was 14 weeks old even though I was convinced it was only 10.

Eventually we sold our house and I had quite a lot of panicing to do about packing up all our things with a toddler at my feet all day. Ariana was just so cute and we were so taken in by her every new development each day that we couldn't at this stage, imagine loving another child. We couldn't find anywhere to live so moved in with my parents, and although we were very grateful as I got bigger and bigger through my pregnancy I really felt the rooms were getting smaller and smaller and I began to feel quite claustrophobic. We found and house and bought it and then I was the one negotiating each day with another builder, contractor, plumber, heating engineer, electrician etc. I was the one, together with my toddler who had to 'keep control' over the work being carried out, in the dusty, dangerous (because of open floor boards, and lose electrical circuits) new house. I was determined that we move in to a comfortable home before this baby was born.

In the meantime I began to feel as if I had so neglected being pregnant and didn't spend nearly one tenth of the amount of time with this baby that I had done before Ariana was born. So I tried a few yoga classes but my mind wasn't on it. I was always worrying about who to leave Ariana with and I didn't really want to leave her, and was still driving myself crazy with the builders etc. I began to suffer terribly from heartburn, my lower back and legs were unbearably painful so that I eventually went to an osteopath.

April 6 I received a telephone call from my sister to tell me she just had her first contraction. She was also expecting a baby, but we all 'knew' it would be born at least a month before mine (or so we thought!!). Later that night I am sure it was empathy contractions, but I started mine. I didn't tell anyone because I was convinced it was probably psychological because I just wanted the baby to be born now if my sister could do it, so could I. But after regular 6-8 minute gaps and 10 hours, I told my husband. We drove to the hospital and they told me to go home, I hadn't dilated at all and these may be practice contractions and could well stop or just go on like this for days. Meanwhile next day Michele (my sister) called to say her waters had broken and she was going into hospital. I continued with moving our stuff from our old house into our new, was pushing the fridge into place, unloading boxes and stopped each time I felt a contraction. I went shopping to buy my daughter a new baby (doll) which we were going to give her after her sibling was born. That afternoon (Wednesday) I went back to the hospital, only to be told to go home again. Aaah! So the day and evening passed by still with regular contractions, and still with me having to stop, breath through them and then continue with what I was doing for another 5 minutes or so. My contractions were only lasting about 15-20 seconds so it was no surprise really that I wasn't dilating. By 11pm that evening I was exhausted but couldn't go to sleep. I'd already been up the night before and all day with contractions. I convinced Michael to take me to hospital because I just couldn't face another night with nothing happening. The midwife checked me out and thankfully told me things had started to open up, but still slow, and did I want to try and sleep the night through and we'd try and have the baby in the morning, or did I want a homeopathic remedy to 'push things on' if that's what would happen soon. I definitely wanted this baby already so opted for the second.

About 11.30pm I got into a wonderful hot birthing pool and my contractions practically stopped I was so relaxed. So I got out and sat on the toilet seat which I found comfortable. Soon I got bored and was just about to get back into the waterpool when another midwife came into the room and told me my mum had telephoned to say my sister just gave birth to a baby girl!!! You could have hit me over with a feather (all 11 stone of me!!!). I was amazed. I was absolutely sure she would have a boy. And now! With that, my waters promptly broke, in one great big bag of a PLOP straight onto the floor. "What a Ripper" was the expression my midwife used.

I decided to go back onto the toilet seat (once I'd calmed down - I was so overjoyed, and excited both for my sister ,and for me seeing that something had happened), to let the rest of the waters (if there were any more) drain. Things went quiet after that. So the midwife left the room for a bit, Michael went over the other side to see about some music when suddenly whilst sitting on the toilet I felt my baby's head come out. Literally. No warning, no pushing, no urges, just there it was. PANIC!. I didn't want my baby to drown and to be honest I wasnt' really sure what had come out. Just the head, the whole body or what!! I screamed. Michael and Melissa came running and lifted me up off the toilet and I just sank onto all fours on the floor. Within seconds Savanna squirmed out onto the floor in front of me.

My God I was astounded and completely lost for words. All I could feel was the most amazing and tremendous emotion of pure love rushing over me, overwhelming me. I was so choked up. I'd fallen in love in the most profound way. This baby was the most beautiful little girl in the whole world, and she just suddenly appeared. I suddenly forgot that I'd been pregnant, couldn't remember anything except where did she come from! It was so beautiful. Not very long afterwards, whilst I was still sitting on the floor with this miracle in my arms, staring up at me, my placenta came out. I climed into the pool with her and my husband and that's where we stayed all by ourselves for what seemed like a few minutes, but later on discovered was over an hour.

Savanna was born at 12.53 and I'd only arrived at the hospital at 11pm. My sister's baby was born at 12.05. The cousins couldn't be more different but are both great pals. Ariana joined us and stayed the weekend with us at the hospital after a few hours alone with our newborn. Ariana and Savanna now (14 months apart) are wonderful sisters - doing all the great things such sisters can do together. I'm really looking forward to another baby - but not just yet! I'll keep you all posted.

Jacqui & Michael Goodman
London