The birth of our 3 children was both the most the amazing and challenging experiences that I have had. In all three occasions everything felt as if it were on a knife-edge. There was the great hope, the expectation, the promise of new life and all the joys that would follow. At the same time everything was so fragile. There was the immense pain that my partner was going through. Although I could support and empathise I couldn't stand in her place. There were incidents along the way for each of the labour. Was the baby ok? How much longer would it take? Cord wrapping around the neck. What happens next? It felt like everything was literally stretched to the max. Energy levels, emotions, feelings, experiences. Yet, at the end of it all, hope came through. Hope was realised. The amazing outcome of wonderful new lives, fresh, full of potential and possibilities - wonderful creations.