"Following a straightforward (rather quick!) hospital birth with my first baby, my husband and I both agreed home would be the safest place to birth my second baby. I felt excited at the prospect of being in my own home comforts and ultimately not having to endure the car journey to hospital in labour. 

My due date came and went, as I expected, due to my first baby being born a week late. I was enjoying the glorious May weather and making the most of my quiet days whilst my toddler went to nursery. Now 4 days overdue but still patiently waiting, I went on a dog walk with my neighbour and my mum. We got back home around 2.30pm. Spent a couple of hours talking, laughing and eating a pineapple with my mum at home. (Yes - I was trying all the old wives tales at this point!). Our chatter developed into reminiscing with my mum about her own birth stories. Being a midwife myself, I love talking about anything birth! 

I soon noticed whilst chatting that I was getting the occasional back pain. Sat on my birthing ball for a while to see if it eased at all. By around 4pm, I realised they had a bit of a pattern. Still completely manageable however I thought perhaps a good idea to set my tens machine up. I loved the tens machine - worked wonders for my back pain! Shortly after, my husband returned from work and I excitedly suggested to him that ‘things might be happening!’. 

He asked if I wanted him to inflate the pool but I felt it was too early. We carried on chatting in between contractions sat on the sofa. At 5pm, I felt an intense contraction and I decided it was time to inflate and fill the pool and time to get a midwife round! Husband listened, agreed and sprung into action along with the help of my mum. 

Still using my tens machine, I was walking around the living room listening to my birthing playlist on Spotify watching the pool fill. My husband nipped out to collect my toddler from nursery at around 5:45. Still no midwives currently present, I knew things were ramping up but stayed as calm as I could. My little boy came in and saw the pool. He was excited to see what looked like a big paddling pool in the living room. After initially asking if he could get into the pool, he quickly remembered from a homebirth storybook we had been reading that it was for the baby! Quick kiss and cuddle and I said my goodbyes to him, my sister whisked him away for a sleepover. 

Not long after 6pm, my wonderful named midwife arrived (along with her most calming presence). A quick hop into the pool around 6.20 and I went my whole body relax. The contractions were powerful and strong but I was well supported by my husband and mum with soft words of encouragement and touch. I held onto a birth comb throughout and felt this really helped me. 

Just gone 7pm, our baby boy surfaced in the water. Everything felt so calm and quiet and was utterly perfect. A few checks were performed by the midwives whilst my baby stayed skin to skin with me throughout. Was not long before I was helped upstairs to my bed with a huge bowl of popcorn! The midwives slipped off under the moonlight and I remember feeling at peace and so perfect to have the night just the three of us. Big brother was dropped off the next day, and it’s true what they say, my heart doubled in size for my two boys 🥰

I will shout about positive birth from the rooftops to anyone who will listen. I recommend all to check out homebirth research and statistics - they are incredible! Although birth, however it comes, can be magical"