Susanne Remic is a primary school teacher, freelance writer and parenting blogger. She writes at Ghostwritermummy and Maternity Matters and in between all of that she regularly wins mummy of the year awards for running around after her two children, aged six and 19 months. This is her pregnancy blog: an online diary of her third pregnancy as she strives to overcome two difficult births, one angel child and one awkward toddler. Join Susanne as she shares every step of her journey from bump to baby!
When a friend gives birth
By Susanne Remic on 07 Nov 2011
On Friday, I arrived at work to discover a text from a good friend which told me that her waters had broken. It was her due date. I spent the rest of the day leaping each time my phone pinged and frantically checking Facebook for further updates.
Nothing, until a second text arrived later that evening which informed me that she was back at home with no contractions and a date with the hospital the next morning.
Childbirth can be an incredibly laborious process, if you can excuse the pun. It’s fairly rare that a friend texts to say that she is in labour and then follows that swiftly with a birth announcement. Unless you consider my other friend who did just that, and phoned me 30 minutes after she entered the hospital to tell me her good news.
Whichever way it happens, it's always so exciting when a friend posts her birth announcement - via text, Facebook or otherwise - and even more so when you are expecting yourself.
Another friend is due two weeks before me and we are now on countdown until maternity leave. It feels so strange to be saying that when I am only 24 weeks. As a teacher though, there are only seven weeks until the Christmas holidays and then only four or so more to go until (hopefully) I get my planned section.
It didn’t seem worth going back for a couple of weeks and made more sense for the children to start the new term with a new teacher.
When a friend gives birth it expands your world a little bit more. It’s not just another date to add to Christmas list, it’s a privilege to be part of it. This week I will visit my friend and I will hold her beautiful son and I will be welcomed into their private world of happiness. I will witness their family as it is now and I will share in their joy, even if just for a few moments.
My friend’s wonderful news this morning was the start of the end for me. My other friend and I are now realising how close we are to holding our own precious bundles in our arms. I can’t wait.
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