We decided to plan for a homebirth for our second baby after a very fast labour following a induction (which I found out I was having the day before!) at 36wks with my daughter in May 2018.

We had fantastic midwifes at the rsch and overall, despite the circumstances it was an incredibly positive birthing experience.

Due to the fast labour and me wanting to try and use water in labour this time around we opted to transfer to the homebirth team at around 16weeks.

Having all the appointments in the comfort of our own home was amazing, our daughter was always so interested in everything that was going on and she always got very excited when I told her Emily was coming to see us and listen to her baby sister!

My pregnancy went by so fast and after a few extra growth scans due to the condition I had in my previous pregnancy (not enough amniotic fluid) 37 weeks came and I was still pregnant, fluid levels were fine,I had collected the birth pool and most things on the list (including lots of biscuits!) so a homebirth was officially on the cards.

Saturday 22nd Feb came, 37weeks and 4 days pregnant and while on a dog walk I had to keep stopping and breathing while holding onto trees! These Braxton hicks are strong… and becoming quite regular.

When we got home I realised that I was in fact in labour! My

husband assembled the crib while I sat on the bed watching peppa pig with my daughter, it suddenly dawned on me this was the end of our time as just the three of us, which made me very emotional!

I called the team around 8pm and while on the phone to Lucy I noticed my waters were leaking, she said she would come over. My husband took the dogs and our daughter to my parents house while I bounced on the ball and tried to stay calm and breathe through the contractions.

Lucy arrived and checked baby’s heart rate which was all fine, then she checked my blood pressure.

My blood pressure had been a little bit raised at points during my pregnancy, only when I was in the hospital. It was put down as white coat syndrome and nothing to worry about. However this time at home it was incredibly high, all three times it was taken it was high. Lucy advised that I should transfer to rsch as I may need medicine to lower my blood pressure. I already had a ‘birth bag’ packed for myself and the baby so my husband for some bits together, I packed the 5 packs of biscuits I’d bought and we all agreed and as we live so close to the hospital an ambulance would take longer so we got in the car and drove, Lucy followed.

In the car my husband asked me if I was disappointed we wouldn’t be having the baby at home, and I can honestly say I wasn’t. I felt so supported and I knew throughout my pregnancy that things could change which would be out of my control and ultimately my aim was to birth my baby safely and calmly – if that was in my dining room or at the hospital.

Caroline was at the hospital already and had got the room ready. As I would need continuous monitoring a water birth was off the cards, but I wanted to try and be as mobile as possible so we got the birth ball and a mat and I set myself up on the floor with some gas and air. My husband put some music on and I sprayed some of my room spray I’d bought from home. I was examined shortly after Lucy handed me over to a lovely midwife at the hospital called Denise, and was surprised to find out I was 5/6cm dilated. However we discovered that baby had decided to turn the other way and had gone back to back, My contractions continued to ramp up and around midnight I felt the urge to push. I was examined again and was still 5/6cm. I felt a little disheartened at this point, Denise explained to me that due to the shape of a baby’s head and her being back to back, that her pressing down on my cervix was making me feel like I needed to push- but I couldn’t. Once she explained this to me, I knew we still had a while to go so got myself back in the zone and we agreed to start me on the hormone drip.

A couple of hours later Denise went on her break, she joked and said ‘make sure I don’t miss it’ and I began vomiting. Andrea who took over from Denise went to get me some anti sickness medicine.

As soon as she left I felt the intense urge to push, I put my hand down and felt the baby’s head coming out! My husband pulled the emergency cord and the midwife came rushing back with a student midwife and got the delivery pack and got on the floor. She held baby’s head until my next contraction when I pushed and our second daughter was born! I couldn’t believe she was here, we had immediate skin to skin and delayed cord clamping while I was still laying on a mat on the floor! My husband was sat on the hospital bed in tears (of relief as well as happiness I think!) I opted for the injection to help deliver the placenta, which came around 5 minutes later.

After an hour or so I got onto the bed and baby was rooting so I put her to the breast and she started to feed immediately. Denise then came back from her break! She couldn’t believe she’d missed all the action!

Baby was born at 3am and we went down to the postnatal ward at about 5am, had some breakfast and were discharged home at lunch time! I was pleased I remembered to bring all the biscuits that we’d bought for the homebirth into hospital so I tucked into them!

Lucy came round the following day and it was so lovely to see a familiar face. Emily came on day 5 and again, having someone who knew me and my family was so lovely. Especially postnatally, when hormones are all over the place. I would recommend the homebirth team to anyone. Although I didn’t meet the whole team, those I did meet were so lovely and friendly. I felt completely and utterly supported throughout my pregnancy, my labour and postnatally. The whole experience has been so so positive I can’t thank them all enough!

Surrey Hills Client February 2020