"I am extremely grateful to have had such a positive experience"

I would like to thank Aberdeen maternity services for enabling me to have such a positive home birth. I went into labour 10 days overdue, and am glad that I was not pressured into being induced before that - I had a less-than-positive experience of being induced at the maternity hospital in 2014, partly because they were short staffed.

But the home birth was so much better. I called my community midwife around 11.30pm after my waters broke and I started having contractions. She arrived about 15 minutes later, and my labour progressed very quickly - just enough time to clear away the toys, and put a tarpaulin and some towels down, and for me to find a comfortable position. After my midwife was finally able to examine me, between contractions, she said that I was not quite far enough along to be ready to push, but she called the second midwife then anyway - I think that was at around 12.45, and I gave birth at 1am. The second midwife arrived shortly afterwards, and was able to help with the third stage, and with clearing away afterwards. I had no pain relief, since it happened too quickly to even consider it, but I had had gas-and-air canisters delivered to my home, so was prepared had I needed it. 

I would especially like to thank my community midwife Karen, who made me feel safe and relaxed, even during such a fast delivery. It was also reassuring to be cared for by someone I had already got to know, and I felt that she was entirely competent and caring. I am also glad that a home birth was possible, and that I wasn't asked to go into hospital afterwards. After the birth I was offered help with getting to the shower and into bed, and the day after the birth a midwife came to check up on me.

Having had such a different experience before, I know what a difference your birth experience can make to your wellbeing even weeks and months later, so I am extremely grateful to have had such a positive experience.