After a quick and smooth labour with my son Alex 2 years ago, I thought about a home birth early in my second pregnancy. My midwife was very supportive, but also very laid back so we didn’t really discuss it in detail and she said I could decide later on, after 32 weeks. I was having extra scans for low birthweight so I wanted to wait and see if the pregnancy was progressing well.
After reading Home Birth a practical guide by Nicky Wesson and talking to Jade during our hypnobirthing sessions I felt more confident and definite about it. I called the midwife team the next day and discussed the practicalities. We live close to the hospital so I figured I could always change my mind, but I was also clear that if I was going to have a quick labour I’d rather stay at home than give birth in the car! After 30 weeks I started gathering a few things together, but decided against a pool.
I struggled to sleep in the latter stages and used my hypnobirthing and relaxation cd’s to help. In the few weeks before doing the relaxation exercises was really refreshing. Each of our hypno sessions helped my husband and I focus on the pregnancy and the details of birth at home, so we felt pretty prepared. I also really liked listening to the affirmations to keep my confidence up whenever I was starting to feel anxious.
Having fallen ill with a really bad cold during week 38, I was dreading going into labour not feeling well! Maybe my body/baby gave me a bit of time. Luckily despite a few cramps over the weekend, things held off till I felt a bit better (39+2) and started slowly. I had a show on Monday morning and some cramps. After a very fast 1st labour, this one took a while to get going – spoke to the on call mw at 9.30am but things didn’t really establish til mid afternoon enough for mw to come over. Went for a walk with my husband, relaxed and had cuddles during the day before the mw came over at about 4. She even went away for a couple of hours as I was still relaxed and surges fairly mild. I had dinner with my toddler before things picked up and luckily my husband insisted I ask the mw to come back as straight away after I put the phone down the surges got close together and much more intense! She must have arrived about 7pm.
I needed to really focus now and used deep breathing, moving around and starting to make noises. I also used a visualisation of the sea and the affirmation that each surge was a step towards the birth to keep me feeling relaxed and positive. I really noticed that after a very intense surge, there would be a couple of milder ones, allowing me to catch my breath again. I was using a ball and leaning on my son’s trampoline throughout! The 2nd mw arrived shortly after the first. Both were great at quietly coaching / supporting along with my husband of course – who was hands on with shoulder squeezes and affirmations.
Just when I was wondering if it was ever going to happen, my waters finally broke and I quickly progressed to the next stage. Only a few surges later and baby Agatha arrived safe and sound at 8.40pm.
A natural 3rd stage helped with some moving around and no damage done, 7lbs 5oz
It was lovely to be at home – after final checks by the midwives, I saw them out at 10.30 (‘you made it look easy’) and had a little glass of bubbly before getting into my own bed at 11.30pm. The midwife care was excellent and felt more focussed than in the hospital from my first labour.
The tens machine really helped and leaning on the birth ball, but in the end the trampoline handle was the perfect height to pull on while on my knees!
I also needed the breathing techniques for the after pains, which as Jade warned, could be worse second time around.
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Awww wow a great birth story I am a doula and I like the sound of more mums to be opting for home births. As long as everything goes smoothly during pregnancy and no other health or baby worries , a fab place to give birth. In your own home in familiar surroundings. Well done x
I agree Liz and women are wanting one to one support of one midwife throughout their labour which you can’t get so easily in the hospital. I think it’s becoming more common for second time mums too, how wonderful to be able to have dinner with your toddler during labour! Jx