My sister and I were supposed to be born around Valentine’s Day 1994, but we decided to speed that up by nine or so weeks. Our mom was already in the hospital with preeclampsia, the best place to be when you suddenly go into labour. Our mom was actually supposed to be discharged the day she went into labour. She and my dad were supposed to be visiting her parents for an early Christmas, but I guess my sister and I thought being born would be more interesting.
Even then it took long. I don’t know when my mom went into labour and I can’t ask her about it now. My dad doesn’t remember all of the details, but my mom must have been discharged (or meant to be discharged) in the late morning or early afternoon. Regardless, my sister and I didn’t arrive until the night. It had gotten so late that my parents started to wonder if my sister and I would have different birthdays, but at 11:01pm, sixteen minutes after my sister, I came into the world breeched with medical tongs to assist my entrance into the world.
Sarah O'Connor 