Birth story - Justine and baby Stevie

I always felt quite lucky to have a midwife as a sister, so in many ways I felt prepared for my pregnancy journey with my first baby. However, it was Siobhan’s book that truly gave me a confidence for birth I didn’t think I could have. I particularly found learning about the biology of labour comforting - I finished the book knowing that my body was perfectly designed to give birth to my baby.

Before reading the book, I never thought a home birth was an option for me. It felt like a “taboo” option in a way - something only very experienced, worldly mothers would do... not a first time mum like me. However, because of the book, when my midwife suggested it as an option, I jumped at the chance to have my baby at home. I was blessed with a low risk pregnancy, my baby was measuring well, and with the knowledge I could have my husband with me the whole time (no COVID restrictions at home!), it was an easy decision to make.

At 40 weeks, my midwife attempted a sweep. We decided to do this simply for my mental comfort - I just wanted to know that I was right in thinking my body was getting ready. And it was! Although my midwife was unable to conduct a full sweep, she was able to tell me that things had started moving along - later that evening, I had my first show. I knew that the early signs of labour could last a few days with a first pregnancy, so we tried not to get too excited. Besides - the blinds hadn’t arrived for our new house yet, and we were not ready to have this baby with the neighbours watching!

A couple of days later, shortly after our long awaited blinds arrived, I had another show and at around 4pm I started to get period-like pains - my sister had previously joked that I would go into labour the day the blinds arrived and she was right! I called my husband to check he was on his way home, but told him not to worry - these pains can come and go and I wasn’t likely to go into labour that night. However, by the time he got home, I was having stronger surges - this was it. He got to work getting the pool ready, and quickly put the blind up in the room we planned to have the baby as I calmly started packing my hospital bag in between surges. It is safe to say we were not fully prepared, but by using breathing counts in for 4 and out for 8, I was surprisingly calm. As a trail runner, I used to count myself up hills whilst running, so counting through the breaths really resonated with me. I facetimed my sister, and after talking me through some surges using a mountain analogy (one that stayed with me throughout the labour), all whilst she was doing the washing up at the other end, she told me it was time to call the midwife. After being told that first time labours can take time, I was both surprised and relieved that all seemed to be going at a pace.

Not long after the lovely on-call midwife arrived at 9pm, I accepted an examination and she told me I was 4cm dilated. Then, GUSH! There went my waters all over the living room. Luckily it was a leather sofa and laminate floor! My baby was on the way, and still I felt extraordinarily calm. My husband attached the tens machine to my back as I leant on the back of the sofa, and then he got to work filling the pool. At the start of each surge, any slight moment of panic would soon pass as I knew all I had to do was breathe through it. Soon I’d reach the peak (top of the mountain) and the surge would start to pass. I would then try my best not to focus on the next one to help me stay calm.

My surges were getting stronger and I knew I needed more than the tens machine. The midwife suggested I got into the pool before trying the gas and air, for which I was grateful. The warm water felt amazing, and because I was at home, stripping down naked was easily done without a second thought. We had a playlist on that I had made and dimmed the lighting. I was still feeling very relaxed in between surges, chatting and laughing with my midwife and husband, drinking plenty. After some time in the pool, I finally started using some gas and air to support me through my surges, which were starting to get very powerful. After each surge I would feel a sense of strength and relief knowing that each one was getting me closer to my baby.

I knew when I had “transitioned”, but unlike some of the stories I had heard about women feeling a sense of panic at this point, I actually felt myself welcoming the down stage. The last stretch of the marathon - the finish line was in sight! I knew how important it was for me to remain calm for both me and my baby so I put all my energy into guiding them out. I could feel my baby moving down, and after my midwife examined me, she suggested it was time to get out the pool to deliver. I leant over my gym ball kneeling on the floor, with my husband holding my hands on the other side. He had remained extremely calm throughout the whole labour, leaving me to breathe through my surges and fetching me drinks - but now he must have sensed I needed him as he started talking me through my last few pushes. The thought I could have been in hospital without him there from the start, due to COVID, is a sad one. With my husband with me every step of the way, all I had to do was concentrate on breathing.

I could feel my baby was crowning and my midwife suggested I had a feel - there they were, they had hair, oh my goodness! It was what I needed to get me through the last few surges - I started to feel a rush of emotion knowing I had almost brought my baby safely into the world. After using every ounce of energy I had to make the most of my surges, at 1:27am our beautiful baby was born. We didn’t know what we were having, so having my husband peer over my shoulder and tell me we had a girl was a very precious moment. Our daughter weighed just under 9lbs, and she is just perfect. The midwives (the second midwife arrived just before I got out the pool) passed her through my legs. There she was, my little baby girl. I sat on the floor leant against the pool and cuddled her skin to skin during delayed cord clamping and my placenta being delivered.

She breastfed not long after birth, and I managed to experience labour with just a handful of second degree tears, and minimal blood loss. Our home birth could not have gone more perfectly, and I would do it all over again.

Unfortunately, after birth, I had to go to A&E as there were concerns with my heart rate, so my home birth journey was cut short. But that’s another story (turns out I had just breathed a little too vigorously with the gas and air!). Both my daughter and I are absolutely fine - we got the home birth that we wanted and she is a happy healthy breastfed baby, and that’s all that matters.

Thank you Positive Birth Company for teaching me about the strength, design and power of a mother’s body. Your book will be the first thing I recommend to any new expecting mother... as well as advice to take it easy on the gas and air! xxx