Caught by Grandma
by Sheri Wallace

My mother took a very special interest in my pregnancy, everything from my prenatal visits to my meals. This was her first grandchild and she was determined not to miss a thing. Maybe it was because we had struggled with infertility and made her wait too long, or maybe she is just psycho for grandkids, but my mom was totally involved.

My husband and I talked frequently in my first trimester about the delivery and how we both imagined it would play out. Of course, his version was a lot less fraught with worry and pain than mine, but we both agreed that we wanted my mom to have a crucial role. I wanted support and nurturing from the best, and my husband wanted a backup.

My mom was thrilled to be a part of the blessed event and wasted no time in telling her friends.

In reading birth stories, I came across one in which the mother's sister delivered the baby. It wasn't a homebirth or an unassisted birth, just a regular hospital birth -- the sister's hands were placed in front of the doctor's. I knew immediately that my mom was meant to play that role. My husband agreed readily; he wasn't interested in being that close to the action.