"Home birth"

Birth Story

I had contemplated homebirth with our 2nd baby but after a long & complicated labour & birth with 1st baby, we decided to go into hospital. I laboured at home for as long as I felt able then went in, having baby 2 hours later in the pool. Nice quick birth but 3rd degree tear & had to wait around to get home as hospitals are busy and although the staff are fantastic they have other families to help at the same time.

I heard from my community midwife at first booking appointment that there was a dedicated homebirth team. I wanted to consider all of my options so I agreed to be referred to the team. 

From the first phonecall from my midwife Katrina introducing herself and arranging an initial appointment at home, I knew I wanted to have a homebirth. Katrina was one of my midwives when I had my first baby and although there were many things that didn’t go well throughout my 48hour labour, I will always remember her warmth and support and would tell anyone who would listen how wonderful she is.

Katrina came for a home visit and we discussed the homebirth service. I discovered all of my care would be at home which was great. I met all 3 midwives of the homebirth team, who are all very experienced and equally amazing. They got to know us as a family so we all felt comfortable in their company. I felt so empowered being able to make decisions about my own birth. I hired a pool, readied my nest and waited on my baby arriving. I was offered access to the nhs hypnobirthing classes ran by Kathleen and found these so empowering, giving me the tools I needed for a positive birth experience.

Our baby’s due date came & went (as it did with our first two) I was offered support, information about post dates pregnancy & options if labour did not start spontaneously. We were booked in for an appointment to check my placenta & fluid around baby & have the option of a sweep so I could make an informed decision about our next steps re induction- baby decided to appear the day before this appointment. 

Labour started off slowly with a surge waking me at 4am, I stayed in bed until 5.30am when I decided that since I’d had a few in a row I’d better get up & ready my nest. I filled my pool and around 6am I sent a message to the homebirth team letting them know things had started but I still felt that I had a bit of time to go. I was delighted that Katrina was going to be on duty and I kept in touch with her throughout the morning. We arranged for her to pop in at 2pm by which time labour was starting to establish but still felt like there was time to go so she left around 3.30pm with and we were to call when surges were a bit longer & stronger.

I felt the need to get into the pool again so I listened to my body & almost immediately felt my surges become stronger and more frequent. I asked my husband to call Katrina at 4.20pm as I felt like baby was getting close, she was there soon after and just in time as I needed the gas & air by then. I used my hypnobirthing techniques and controlled my breathing which along with being in the pool & having the gas & air allowed me to listen to my body and without any intervention, medication or stitches birth my 10lbs 9oz baby.

I felt baby’s full head of hair just before he came out which was amazing & brought him straight into my chest when he was born. We did delayed cord clamping, physiological delivery of placenta and lots of skin to skin. Baby went to daddy for more skin to skin while I got out of the pool then back on to me until after his first feed. Spent most of the evening skin to skin with myself or daddy. I had a small tear mostly caused by scar tissue from previous 3rd degree tear with 2nd baby but this did not require any stitches and will heal best left alone. 

Such an amazing experience to birth my baby on my own terms while supported by my husband and wonderful team of midwives. Would recommend homebirth and hypnobirthing to anyone who is even just thinking about it.