Le hasard.

In French, we say, "Le hasard fait bien les choses," which means that chance does things right. A few days ago I confirmed that the midwife who delivered Eloise was in fact the same midwife who, just over two years ago, also delivered Hugo in a different hospital and really, simply by chance. 

From the moment Jenny walked through the doors of our house several months ago on the occasion of our first antenatal meeting for my second pregnancy, I just couldn't shake the feeling that she seemed familiar to me. Just for an instant, I thought that it was the same person but because it was a different hospital and Hugo's birth had been such a blur anyway, I simply dismissed the idea. The feeling never left me though even if I didn't share my suspicions with anyone. 

A part of me didn't want it to be the case because if I'm completely honest, I hadn't been impressed by the midwife at the time of Hugo's birth. I had found her quite cold and abrupt. Although she had been able to help me calm down afterwards, she had left us in the room alone at a very crucial time as my labor quickly escalated. By the time she came back, I was already very far along and she had been taken by surprise. For that, I did feel a little let down and unsupported.

She had also insisted on making the temperature of the bath very hot and I still think that getting so dehydrated was the reason I ended up with a full blown bladder infection almost as soon as Hugo was born. 

Nevertheless, I also remember that afterwards, she had made a passing comment about how surprisingly fast my labour had been for a first timer. She had said it jokingly, warmly and with a smile. It had lightened the atmosphere in the room after what had been a very intense experience. 

Following this pregnancy, over the course of a few weeks, we were able to all warm up to each other. Jenny, we discovered, is a tough nut to crack. She does have a fairly tough exterior, she isn't cold but she isn't warm and fuzzy either. She gets straight to the point with a no-nonsense attitude. Behind this though is hidden a caring, tough-loving, supportive woman who reserves her warmth for special occasions. At least, you know she means it. 

In any case, my suspicion that she was the same person was confirmed when, going through papers, I found a bristol card that had been filled out when Hugo was born. It had his basic birth information and had been filled out by the midwife present. The name written on there was 'Jenny' and the handwriting almost identical to my more recent paperwork. 

I texted her that day and she confirmed that she was working there at the time and that there was indeed a very high chance it had been her that day. There isn't really a doubt left in my mind and I am certain it was her. 

I am glad that I was right afterall. In a way, I feel reconciled with some of the events during and following Hugo's birth. I am still not completely happy with some of the details but I feel that Jenny got a second chance to show her warmer side. At least, I know her a little better now and I will always be infinitely grateful for the incredibly important role she has played in our lives.