26 Jun When Mark Became Chloe: The Surprise That Redefined My Birth Story
Chryss Cada’s dreams end up being a little more accurate than science.
When birth plans meet real life
Childbirth instructors suggest you write up a ‘birth plan’ – but they should call it a ‘birth best guess’.
About a month before I was due to have my baby, I wrote down my wishes – from what type of music I wanted playing during labour to what type of snacks I wanted afterwards. At the top of the page, I put a small note: “All subject to Mark’s approval, of course”.
Expecting a boy – or so I thought
Mark, after my brother, was the name I had decided on for my baby after the 20-week ultrasound showed I was having a boy. It would have been fun to keep the sex of my baby as a surprise, but as a journalist who is curious by nature and a person who likes to plan ahead, I couldn’t resist finding out…
But I kept dreaming of a little girl
For months I had been dreaming about a girl with a long brown ponytail. Just a few nights before my ultrasound, I had had a particularly realistic dream in which we were on the bus and it was time for her to get off at school…
Preparing for a son
As the news started to sink in, I began to panic. As a single mum, I had always worried about male role models for my child; now that I was having a boy they would be crucial. So I started lining up male friends to be there for the little guy…
The unexpected caesarean
Eight days past my due date, my “unproductive contractions” became so strong that I headed to the hospital. Despite every effort to stimulate the baby, he was unresponsive…
And then – the biggest twist of all
The baby didn’t cry when they pulled him out, only letting out a gentle whimper. After what seemed like an eternity, they cleaned the baby up and took a picture.
And then this: “It’s a girl.”
Coming to terms with Chloe
When you’ve been thinking of something one way for five months, it takes a while to bend your mind in a totally different direction. For days I called her a ‘him’ – even after I had named her Chloe Ann…
Science isn’t always perfect
When my friend Sharlene had her 20-week ultrasound, Eve told her she was having a girl. Sharlene couldn’t help asking her if she was sure…
The dream was right after all
At 4.08kg and 56cm, everything about Chloe was somewhat engorged at birth… But there’s an instant connection when you look into your child’s face that leaves no question as to whom she belongs…
Illustration by Alex Wegner
