A birth in a car by Emilie, mother of Isaë

Five minutes only after my husband stopped the car, Isae, 54 cm and 4,140 kg, popped out easily at the back seat of the car, right in the hands of the midwife on duty.

I was thrilled when I learned there was a french-speaking doula working in Singapore, and so being pregnant with my second child, I contacted her right away. I was happy to find out that Sandra was a clear, understanding and listening professional with the right level of expertise. Sandra’s preparatory talks were tailored to our needs and questions. Attending those with my husband really helped him getting involved early and getting us «in the mood» together also with our 3 year-old. She loved to play with the dummy baby and its cord!

We really wished for a natural birth, and to me, having the support of the doula was a necessary condition of success. Especially in Singapore when you know you will have to argue somehow to avoid a «medicalised» birth. On our own, weʼd find it very difficult not to freak out and run to the hospital at the first contractions. And even more difficult to stand for our choices, sometimes in spite of the medical team advice, even if my ob-gyn was a naturalʼs birth supporter.

My labour started very naturally when my body was fully prepared for it. Thanks to Sandra being with us, we felt confident enough to manage contractions at home for 4 hours before leaving to the hospital. Yes it was painful but nothing compared to the pain I endured when my first labour was medically augmented. We were more or less waiting for the 2-min apart contractions, but they never came and my water broke as the contractions were still 5 minutes apart, just as I was getting ready to go to hospital! After that everything happened VERY quickly and as I was getting in the car I felt the urge to push already. We are so thankful not to have been on our own… Sandra could tell the baby’s head was not in sight so we drove to the hospital. From her knowledge and experience she could tell us that the lying down posture and the car vibrations would slow the labour just enough and right she was! In the end we did make it to the E.R. doors (it was after hours).. but not to the labour ward.

Five minutes only after my husband stopped the car, Isae, 54 cm and 4,140 kg, popped out easily at the back seat of the car, right in the hands of the midwife on duty. All the medical staff did an amazing job, they were up and ready around us in two minutes time: some standing on the driverʼs and passengerʼs seats, others at the door. My husband was standing behind me in the open door, while Sandraʼs head was coming out of the trunk!

Strangely I felt very secure and too focused on getting this baby out to even being scared. Somehow I knew my baby and I were just fine. Poor Sandra got almost insulted in the process. Especially when she requested that the midwife allows me to hold my baby a few seconds. Were it nor for her, I would not have seen my daughter, because following their emergency protocol, the staff wanted to take her away immediately!

I think our story speaks for itself. I just cannot imagine giving birth without a doula. The parents can never have enough support, even when everything goes quickly and smoothly. Needless to say in more difficult situations. Sandra was just the right partner for us, I am very happy that our roads crossed.

Emilie A