An Unexpected Birth: A Mother's Calm Amidst Surprise

I was born on the twenty-fourth of July on a sunny summer’s day. It was laundry day and my mother had no initial signs that in the next three and a half hours that she would give birth to her fifth child. She had just put clothes in the dryer and began climbing the stairs to go into the kitchen for a snack when suddenly her water broke. She was not experiencing any pain or discomfort prior to her water breaking. She was very calm as she murmured the words, “I think my water just broke”. Thereafter, she called my father at work to inform him that her water broke. He was not able to leave off work until that evening. Next, she called her mother to inform her that she was going into labor. My grandmother lived just a few blocks from our house

The doctor placed me on my mother’s chest and announced that she had given birth to a baby girl. My mother was overwhelmingly happy. She said that I was a pretty baby with a strawberry between in the middle of my forehead between my eyes. I was also a fat baby as most babies are with an abundance of light brown hair. Afterwards my mother was given a private room and the nurse brought me to her to be breast-fed. My mother breast-fed me for three months as was my

Both of my parents wanted a large family and my mother wanted another girl. At the time, I had three older brothers and one older sister. According to my mother, I was a very easy pregnancy. She did not experience morning sickness with me and was able to continue her regular routine. She took few naps, because she didn’t get as tired while carrying me as she did with my other siblings. However, when she was not napping she rested everyday at two in the afternoon. During my mother’s pregnancy she had the support of her husband, mother, father and her sisters and brothers. Although she did not have a baby shower, they gave her all of the baby items she necessary for a new baby. These items included a basinet, diapers, baby bottles, clothes, a new baby stroller, baby bath items and receiving blankets. According to my mother I was what is known as a good baby and easy to care for, because I generally cried when I needed changing or feeding and I would sleep through the night. In addition, I was a happy baby because I loved to laugh and smile and