I’ll be totally blunt. Port Elizabeth is not the most thrilling city in the world. This was my last stop before heading back to Cape Town, and due to bus timetables over Christmas, I ended up stuck there a little longer than I wanted to be. The town seems very industrial, made for work rather than play. The beaches are rocky and the small strip of attractions on the beachfront leaves a bit to be desired. Despite all this, my time in Port Elizabeth will be something I never forget.
On a day late last year in Port Elizabeth, the weather was lovely and mild, and rather than spend the afternoon lounging in my hostel or by the beach, I found myself wandering along a footpath between the ocean and a busy main road. I took this walk with the intention of clearing my head, getting some fresh air and maybe burning off a few of the extra calories I had consumed the night before.
After walking for around about forty minutes, I came across a heavily pregnant woman, leaning over the small fence-like structure between the path and the road. She was alone, groaning and obviously in distress. There were many cars slowing down on the road to peek briefly out of their windows, but not one stopped. I approached the woman and attempted to ask her if she was okay and if she needed any help, but she responded in a language I knew nothing of. It didn’t sound at all like Afrikaans, and that is the only non-English language in South Africa that my ears can identify.
For those of you who have been following my blog for a while will know, I am a midwife. Pregnancy and childbirth is my forte, my passion, my ultimate purpose in this life. As a result, I am pretty alright at identifying the stages of labour and birth.
After I asked this woman if she needed help, she spoke a few words to me before her face changed to a face that I know as a “pushy” face. When a woman goes through the second stage of labour – that which the cervix is fully dilated and the urge to push becomes uncontrollable – she will almost always make a “pushy” face. A face that shows the strenuous effort she is putting in to bring new life into the world.
My midwifery has taught me to always be prepared, so it was lucky, but also not surprising that I had a small first aid kit in my purse. It contained very little, just scissors, sterile gauze, bandaids, alcohol swabs and gloves. My first instinct was that the birth of this womans baby would not be far away, and I had pulled the gloves out of my purse without thinking. The woman watched me do this as her contraction ended, and she must have thought I was a nurse, doctor, midwife or some other health professional, because she did not hesitate to pull up her dress.
I could immediately see head.
The baby was not yet quite crowning, the visible area of the head would have only been the size of a fun size Snickers bar and the head receded slightly back as she breathed. During this stage of labour, contractions generally last longer, but also have longer breaks between, which is the way the body copes and recovers from such physical exhaustion.
I bent over as her next contraction began. She squatted slightly and with only one big push, the head was born. She took a moment to breathe in and with another quick push, I caught a big, screaming, thick haired baby boy.
I quickly stood up and put him against his mothers chest to keep warm and as soon as I had done so, a car pulled up, a man hopped out and began quickly ushering this woman – with baby in tow – into his car. He had enough English to say “husband” and “thankyou”. He didn’t need to thank me. This woman had done all the work, I just caught her baby.
The car doors closed and just like that, they were gone. The whole experience would have not lasted more than five minutes! I was left standing on the side of the road, with nothing but bloody gloves and a puddle of blood and amniotic fluid on the ground, wondering if what had just happened was real.
The next day I went back to Cape Town and I never heard anything more about this woman and her baby boy. I searched on the local news websites but found nothing. I hope that wherever they are, they are healthy and thriving, and that when she has her next baby, she has a little bit more privacy.
how blessed was she,to have you there…and sad to note,nobody stopped to help her…
You are taking a casual walk and still carrying “scissors, sterile gauze, bandaids, alcohol swabs and gloves.” You are a true professional.
I like to think of it more as good preparation! But I like your way of looking at it too 😊
I love the tone of your blog. You’ve found yourself one more follower, who also has wanderlust in her heart, and restless feet. Congrats on the blessing of being able to welcome new life into the world. Safe travels. 🙂
What a great story! THAT is something I’d never forget! 😀
What a travel story! Just think…the mother probably regarded you as her “angel,” because you — a skilled professional — showed up at just the right time.
Wow! She’s lucky you were there. Great story to share!
I’m so glad you were there to help! Hopefully mom and baby are healthy and fine despite such a surprising entrance into the world.
Great story!!
Oh my goodness! That’s definitely not the sort of “travel experience” you’d expect! Hoping she and baby are doing well now.
Fate takes you on unexpected roads!!
Wow….the most I’ve ever done in my roadside travels is to fix a bike or two and lend a Bandaid when needed. Well done!
That’s crazy! And amazing.
what an experience, like a movie, but no one had thank you, the Lord is looking anyway…
I love your stories so much they’re always so much more than the average travel blog. This has to be the most awesome article I’ve ever read. I hope I have a midwife like you when I have little ones.
That’s truly wonderful! I’m glad that in your travels you are also able to practice your profession/passion.
Lovely account of a very memorable day – well written and well done too 😊
Wow! Such a lucky coincidence that you happened to be there. Just discovered your blog and i love it already! <3
Nice story and beautiful photo:)
That’s an incredible story! And so lucky you were there to help that poor woman. I hope she and her baby are well.
They are so blessed to have you there at the right time and place.
One helluva story!
Hooray! I love your travel stories, but have been hoping to see some midwifery tales as well (total birth nerd, I’m a weirdo). How amazing that you were able to combine your two passions, by accident! Well done on being in the right place and catching that baby, I bet the mother tells stories about you appearing from nowhere right as she was crowning, too. Birth is amazing – it must be such a privilege to bear witness.
What an amazing, surreal experience! PE is a very sleepy little town, I’ve been there a few times – this may well have been the most exciting thing in weeks!
That’s an amazing story! Very inspiring. Although I have to be honest – I hope I’m never in that situation. Now if it was a runner on the side of the road with a leg cramp – I’m all there to help and I would know what to do.
a.m.a.z.i.n.g
hello, Ellen, I have nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award , please see,
https://thehutownerblog.wordpress.com for the rules…Congratulations !
this is the link to the awards..https://thehutownerblog.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/versatile-blogger-award/
Wow, how incredible! Although, I’m not sure I would’ve like to be the person standing on the side of the road in a bloody puddle after-the-fact, if the police happened along……some explaining to do there 😀
I’m a midwife too. What a crazy experience!
Exploring Wanderer
It certainly was! Which country do you practice in? 😊
Well that was certainly one for the books; an experience for you and a very lucky break for her. Glad it all turned out well.
What a unexpected walking trip that was. Your were an angel for that woman!
Hi Ellen! I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Here is the link regarding my post http://sconesinthesky.com/2015/05/01/versatile-blogger-award/. Hope you can check it out! I love following your feed, great stories and pictures to accompany them!
Take care,
Erika | SconesInTheSky.com
Unbelievable! A fantastic story and a great stroke of luck for that lady that you happened to find her at that exact moment!
What a beautiful miracle for both of you !!!
Though you may not know each other I’m sure that’s a day neither one of you will forget!
Wow, what an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! That is some serious luck. Maybe one day you’ll find them?
Hat’s off. you are so professional and efficient!!
This is a once in a million event. Amazing!
Incredible. That is the kind of story you will tell to young ears when you are old and gray that will leave them in utter awe and admiration. What an experience!
Good job!
I was glad my oldest daughter tried a midwife, along with water birth for my oldest grandson. I also enjoyed the story you shared and what a blessing you are to this woman and others, along the way. Do you ever watch on PBS or British television the old fashioned show, “Call the Midwife?” I sure do enjoy the nuns and nurses working together in the olden days. Even older than I am….ha ha!
It is just amazing! You were a Godsend to this woman 🙂
Wow, amazing!
I’ve never read a travel story like this one. You’re quite the adventurer. I imagine that lady has thanked the goddess or god many times for your sudden appearance and expertise. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Amazing story. You were the right person in the right place for that woman. No doubt something you’ll never foret.
Wow! What a unique and special story. Thanks for sharing it!
Just reading your narrative was pretty thrilling! Seeing a new life come into this world is wonderful.
Marcey
What an amazing experience and a fabulous way to remember Port Elizabeth – Serendipity for both of you! Anita
This is an amazing story! You’re an inspiration!
great job!…I am surprised to know that you are a midwife..
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