Voices from the Womb – Four Mothers Tell About Prebirth Communication

Catherine’s Story – A Baby Comforts a Distressed Mum

My second pregnancy was a complete surprise, says Catherine. We already had a toddler and were happy with our child. But we weren’t planning to have another yet. Our living situation was quite difficult at the time, and when I discovered that I was pregnant again, I didn’t know how I would cope. I became very depressed and cried a lot.

Of course I felt terribly guilty about the negative feelings I was having towards the baby and I was worried about how it would affect him to be an unwanted child. So I started to put my hands onto the ‘bump’ and talk to him. I told him, “I’m so sorry. I do want to love you. I am just feeling overwhelmed and I’m not coping.”

Then one day at about 5 months into the pregnancy, as I was massaging my abdomen and talking to him, he pushed his little fist out so I could feel it clearly through my abdominal wall. He actually put his hand right into the palm of my hand, and kept it there. I felt as if he was saying, “It’s okay mum, I love you, I’ll help you, and we’ll get through this together.” It was a very important turning point for me, and from that time I started to feel really connected to him.

We had moved from the city to a smaller town, and I was unable to find a midwife or doctor willing to deliver my baby at home, like our first child. But since I am an experienced midwife myself and because my first labour had been fairly short, my husband Mark and I decided to have the baby at home on our own. It was a very powerful experience. Mark helped deliver the baby, and my oldest son cut the cord. Afterwards we all got into bed and snuggled together. It was very special and helped us to feel like a family. I have three children now, but still feel very close to that middle child.