My homebirth experience

My first pregnancy I just followed along with what I was told, presumed that all the doctors and midwifes knew best, and had a hospital birth. It was ok, there were no complications, and I can’t complain about anything the doctors/midwifes did. Yet when  I found out two years later that I was pregnant again, I knew that I didn’t want another hospital birth. This time around I educated myself, I read every natural childbirth book I could get my hands on, I combed the internet for every drop of information I could find and I spent hours on online forums talking to other mamas, many who had already had homebirths. By the time my due date came around, I knew exactly what I wanted and didn’t want and I was prepared.

Two days after my due date, I decided to have a nap when I put my elder daughter to bed. My husband, G was working till 10.30pm and I figured I’d have a rest, then get back up to see him. I slept till 9pm, woke up and ran myself a bath. A long soak in a hot bubble bath later, I was just drying myself off when I felt the first contraction at twenty past ten By the time by G arrived home twenty minutes later, the contractions were coming every 5/6 minutes. He asked if he should ring the midwifes but I told him that we’d be hours yet. Whilst he was cooking himself some late night dinner, the contractions were getting stronger and more frequent. The pain was bearable, and I was just walking around the house, chatting to G while he cooked.

By twenty past eleven I asked G to dial the midwifes, as the contractions were now every 3/4 minutes. I still at this point thought that I was only in the beginning stages of labour. I was relaxed knowing that Lola was sound asleep in bed. The midwife arrived twenty minutes later, and after examining me, told me that I was already 9cm dilated – almost ready to go!! She quickly rang for the second midwife to come. My main memory of this point was my husband eating pasta and drinking a beer while the midwife was chatting to me!

I was still managing to walk around, pausing to bounce on my heels through the contractions. The second midwife arrived, and we pulled the sofa bed out ready. I climbed on so the midwifes could check on my progress, to be over taken with an urge to push.  That first push burst my waters, then a minute later with the urge to push again, my daughter was born into the hands of her daddy. I think we were all slightly taken aback at her speedy arrival!

She latched straight on, and we sat snuggled together, mama, dada and baby, big sister safe asleep upstairs. The midwifes left us an hour after kiki was born, and she spent her first night in our bed, safe with mama and dada.

We were so lucky to have such a postivive experience. Homebirth can be a wonderful experience. If you wish to have a homebirth, I would suggest reading every little thing you can on the subject, chatting with other mamas and most important of all listening to your heart. You know what is right for you and your birth – don’t let others negativity play a part in your decision.