Stork makes a home delivery of twins on Black Friday
Dad, Jarred kept his cool while delivering his daughters in the driveway of their home
On November 25, while many rushed to the malls to get their hands on Black Friday specials, Jarred and Madelein Goodman, of Rynfield, received a special delivery from the stork.
Being 36 weeks pregnant with twin girls, the day started like any other with the pair tending to their three boys, serving bowls of cereal and making sure everyone was dressed and polished for the day ahead.
“I had been in consultation with our mid-wife looking at options of having my girls delivered naturally,” said Madelein.
“Through the grace of God, I had been healthy throughout my pregnancy. It was thought that one of the girls may be born naturally whereas chances were that the second may need surgical intervention as the birth of twins is deemed high-risk.
“Upon the advice of doctors we were told that once my pregnancy advanced past 36 weeks I will have to make a booking at a birth unit to ensure that all the necessary medical care was in place for their arrival.”
Nature’s timing had other plans and shortly after 06:00 Madelein went into active labour.
“Realising it was time to get to the hospital, Jarred loaded our hospital bags into the mini-bus. He calmly helped me into the back and before he could get into the driver’s seat Grace was born,” she said.
Cradling his sleeping daughter as she clutches to his pinky, Jarred looks at her face, beaming with pride.
“It was a privilege to deliver her and realising that both Madelein and Grace were healthy I made a second attempt to head for the hospital,” he said.
“At that time our mid-wife had arrived at the gate and as I was scrambling to find the remote to open the gate, Madelein was already in the process of delivering Hannah. Within five minutes both girls were born in the back of the car, in the driveway and I was able to deliver both.”
Born weighing 3kg and 3.23kg, the newborns and mom were deemed healthy enough to stay at home.
Laying side by side, being doted over by their older brothers, they clumsily seek each other’s touch as mom and dad bask with delight at the sight of their brood together.
“Jarred was definitely Mr Delivery on the day, delivering two for the price of one,” said Madelein, giggling.
“Everything happens with God’s timing and the birth of the twins in no different. We were blessed with grace upon grace that the girls were born at their home with their family albeit unprepared, lovingly receiving them into this world.”
Fussing over her five grandchildren before heading to work, grandmother Ina Rowe says that being present with the twins’ birth was the most amazing experience.
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