Jennifer Coffman didn't have to travel far to bring her second daughter into the world. She cut out all that pesky business of driving to the hospi
tal and delivered right on her front lawn.
The Ann Arbor, Mich., mother started having contractions on Sunday night. Labor progressed extremely quickly. She and her husband had enough time to summon Coffman's mother (she was supposed to babysit their first daughter) and the doula, but it quickly became apparent that little Maeve Elizabeth would arrive before they could get to a medical facility. So Coffman got on her hands and knees in the front yard, pushed five times and out the baby came.
My favorite part of the story: The fact that, because it was dark, the doula mistook Coffman's mother for Coffman and attempted to grab her crotch. That's the kind of tale they'll tell again and again every Christmas. My second favorite part: Coffman's contention that, "If I'd really planned a home birth, I think I would have given birth in the backyard."
I have so many questions about the details: Were there bugs crawling on Coffman? Other than the OB who lived across the street (no joke, read the whole story), did any neighbors notice? Did her husband feel guilty because he hadn't mowed the grass recently enough? Could the new mom technically have been charged with indecent exposure if someone on her block decided to be a jerk and call the cops?
All I know is this story has got me thinking about the most uncomfortable places to give birth. I smell a list coming on ... stay tuned to this space.
Image: Leisa Thompson/Ann Arbor News
