A beautiful birth story from a Christchurch mum

So I am a 22 year old first time mum to a baby boy. My husband and I planned for a homebirth right from the beginning of pregnancy and wanted it no other way. We did all the right things with having an experienced homebirth midwife and taking supplements and practicing breathing and intentional pressure holds.

On the 21st of July (38 weeks pregnant) I woke up at 2:55am with mild pressure and tightenings. I wasn’t sure if i was in labour but I could not stop having bowel movements. I contemplated waking my husband up but felt I was gaslighting myself into thinking it was labour.

5 minutes later it was definitely labour and he was definitely being woken up. I called in my best friend, who also is an experienced birth support person (doula). Once I knew I was in labour I headed straight for the shower so I could use the water as a relief whilst I moved to the contractions and breathed deeply, helping push our baby boy down. I spent an hour in the shower. Then realised we needed the hot water for the birth pool.

No stress with the old boiling pots trick! With the pool being filled in laid in front of our fire continuing to breathe and focus.

My best friend then called the midwife, the midwife did not think it was necessary for her to come yet as ‘first time mums aren’t quick’, but my friend told her it’s no time for jokes and she needs to start making her way over (spoiler alert she arrived just in time for transition).

The midwife arrived an hour later and check my dilation, I was 8cm at 6:30am. Into the pool I went, the relief from floating was next level. I worked with my support people, making a range of low deep noises trying to help my baby lower. From here it felt so fast, but my boys head was seen at 8:28am and I pushed out his head at 8:39. I sat with his head out until he was born into my husbands hands at 8:45am and he passed our baby through my legs for me to hold.

This whole birth was peaceful and blissful. Such an amazing experience and I cannot fathom having it any other way for our next children. I had no tears, a tiny graze because he came out with his hand on his face. No medication and no intervention, just has nature intended for this amazing process.

Will always recommend homebirth and cannot believe how amazing it was. We are three weeks post birth and have been doing fantastic with recovery and baby boy is very calm.

Shared with permission by the beautiful mum who tells the story, with the agreement that no names would be shared.