The pain and joy of motherhood.

Frank lay there with his eyes shut not wanting to open them as he let out a groan like he had never known before.

He was in so much pain it felt like his body was being ripped in two.

He could hear people talking around him as he lay there and let out another frustrated moan of pain.

He could not understand why he had this incredible urgency to push.

Unable to resist the body any longer he gritted his teeth & bear down and pushed.

His whole body was shaking from the effort of it all.

He let out another moan of pain as he pushed once more before opening his eyes.

He was dazzled by the brightness of the room.

He was surprised to find himself on his back with his legs in stirrups.

He was surrounded by a lot of people he guessed were medical staff as he felt the urge to push once more.

The woman standing in front of his open legs said to him that's it love keep on pushing.

I can see the baby's head now.

Just one more big push and it's all over.

He gave it everything he had and the baby slid out from between his legs.

He fell back onto the bed in pain.

Everything after that went by in a blur like it was happening to somebody else.

He did not really notice when they cut the umbilical cord or passing his after birth.

The midwife handed him his beautiful baby girl.

He held her in his arms feeling nothing but complete love.

It wasn't until a few hours later when it was time to feed the baby for the first time that he was able to tell somebody who he really was.

The doctor and the nurse were not overly surprised that Mrs Phillips who had just given birth to her first child was claiming to be a man named Frank.

Apparently he wasn't the only one that this had happened to.

At the moment there was nothing they could do for him but make him comfortable & register his identity.

The nurse instructed him that the baby needed feeding.

She instructed him on how to encourage the baby to latch and the best way to hold the baby.

He lay in the hospital bed watching the baby suckling peacefully on his teat.

He was enjoying the feeling of the release of pressure in his swollen milk filled breasts and bonding with the baby in such a way he would find it hard ever to be without her in his life.