I closed my eyes, gathered what little strength I had left, and pushed with everything I had. The pain was explosive, radiating from my core throughout my entire body, but I could feel my son entering the world. A strangled, animal-like sound escaped my throat as I bore down.

Then, just as I felt the burning sensation of my son’s shoulders passing through, the delivery room door burst open with a bang that made everyone jump.

“Where is he? Where is he?!”

The shriek was unmistakable: my mother-in-law, Judith. Through my haze of pain and exertion, I saw her storm into the room, her face contorted with rage, her designer handbag swinging wildly from her arm. Behind her, a nurse was trying to intercept her, calling out, “Ma’am, you can’t be in here!”