I always dreamed of becoming a mother, and finally, my dream was coming true. But the joy of expecting a child was overshadowed by my husband’s unexpected business trip and the arrival of a stranger who turned out to be connected to my past. My husband David and I had been preparing and planning for a child for a long time, but for many years, nothing worked out. We had tried everything we could think of, and the constant disappointment was heartbreaking.But eight months ago, everything changed. I finally saw those coveted two lines on the pregnancy test. This pregnancy was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
The joy I felt was indescribable. I knew I would never abandon this child, as someone once did to me. Even though I was adopted when I was a year old and my adoptive parents were wonderful, learning that I was adopted broke me at the time.It felt like a part of my identity was missing. But now, I was eagerly awaiting our baby, ready to give them all the love I had received and more.David and I decided to have a partner birth, so I knew it would be a special moment for both of us. One evening, when David returned from work, he looked very tired and worried. I tried to find out what had happened, but he only responded that everything was fine. We had dinner in silence, and I felt that he wasn’t telling me something.
The tension in the air was thick, and I could see he was struggling with something.“David, please talk to me. It’s hard for me to see you like this,” I said, my voice soft but insistent. David sighed heavily and rubbed his nose, looking down at the floor. “Alright,” he began slowly. “I’ve been sent on a business trip in ten days. I’ll be paid very well for it, and I thought it was a good opportunity since the baby is coming soon.” “That’s great. Why do you look so sad then?” I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.“Because they don’t know how long they’ll need me there. They said to expect anywhere from two weeks to a month,”
David said, his voice strained. “But the birth could happen during that time,” I said, placing a hand on my stomach, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me. “I know. That’s why I’m in this state,” David replied, his eyes filled with worry. “Then refuse,” I suggested, trying to keep my voice steady.“I can’t. It will affect my future work, and we could use the extra money,” he explained, frustration evident in his tone. “But you might not be there for the birth,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. David got up and came over to me, hugging me tightly. “That’s why I found a doula for you. I want you to have support while I’m away,” he said, his voice gentle.For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney “I want to give birth with my husband, not some stranger,” I said, dissatisfied. “I know. But Martha is very good, and many people recommended her to me,” he tried to reassure me. “I don’t like this idea,” I said, shaking my head.“I’ll try to return as soon as possible, but I want us to have some backup.
Let me arrange a meeting with her while I’m still here. If you don’t like her, we’ll look for other options,” he offered, trying to find a compromise. “I don’t want other options.
I want you to be with me,” I insisted, feeling tears well up in my eyes. “I want to be with you and the baby too,” David said, placing his hand on my belly. “That’s why I feel awful about having to leave. But we’ll get through this, and I hope to be back before you start giving birth, okay?”“Okay,” I said softly. That evening, we just lay together, hugging, as if not wanting to let each other go for even a moment.
The fear of him not being there for the birth was heavy in my heart, but I knew we had to face this together, even if it meant being apart for a little while.Two days after that conversation with David, I was on my way to meet the doula, Martha. To be honest, I wasn’t very positive about this meeting because I didn’t fully understand how a stranger could support me in such an important moment. I parked near the café where Martha and I had agreed to meet and went inside. The café was warm and inviting, with the rich smell of coffee filling the air.
I looked around, not knowing which of the people there was Martha.Suddenly, a woman sitting alone at a table waved at me, and I realized it was her. She looked older than I expected, around 50, with kind eyes and a gentle smile. I approached and sat at the table. “Hi! I’m Martha, and you must be Sheila,” she said, her smile warm and inviting. “Yes, but how did you know it was me?” I asked, a bit surprised. “You looked confused… and pregnant,” she added with a gentle laugh.“Right, I just feel like this belly has always been with me,” I said, laughing too. “I understand, but believe me, you’ll feel such relief when it’s gone,” Martha said, nodding. “I can only imagine,” I replied, trying to picture that moment.
Martha and I talked for two hours. She explained what her work would involve and how she could help me. She spoke about different techniques for pain management, relaxation, and support during labor. I described how I envisioned the process, emphasizing the importance of a calm and supportive environment. It turned out our views were very similar, and we immediately found common ground.Martha’s experience and empathy reassured me, and I was grateful to David for coming up with this idea. As the conversation was ending, Martha asked, “Do you have any more questions for me?” “Yes, I don’t want to be tactless, but do you have children?” I asked, feeling a bit awkward.“No, I decided to dedicate my life to medical school and then to working in this field, but now I’m here,” Martha said, smiling. “But I have given birth,” she added softly. “Oh…” I said, sensing it might have been something very personal and possibly traumatic for her. We stood up from the table, and Martha came over to hug me goodbye.
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