Well as the title suggests I had my home birth and it was absolutely fantastic.

I was due on Tuesday 21st April and had been having strong BH for over a week but the day came and went with nothing happening.
On Friday 24th April my lo woke me and my husband up at 4am screaming for me and basically wouldn't go back to bed for anything we weren't really sure what was wrong as I felt perfectly normal and just thought perhaps she was feeling unwell, until at 530am I had a strong contraction completely out of the blue. I didn't think much of it and thought that possibly because I was tired from waking early the BH felt stronger, 5 mins later when I had another one followed by another 5 mins another we decided that this was probably the real thing.

I was still really reluctant to call the labour ward though because they hadn't coming that long but finally had 615am I have in and called. The oncall midwife arrived at the house at 720am and examined me at 8am to find I was already 6-7cm dilated.

So we decided that at 930 our lo should go to a friends house so my husband took her and the midwife continued filling the birthing pool the second midwife had arrived by then and things seemed to be steaming along at quite a pace. By 1030 I was really starting to feel alot of pressure but was concerned that possibly I wasn't fully dilated so I carried on for another hour trying not to push too much but finally decided it was worth me getting out of the pool to be checked, they found that I was fully dilated but had developed an anterior lip at the front at started panic because this had happened in my first labour and ended up with me having an epidural at 9cm and a really drawn out labour. My midwife was brilliant though and really calmed me down as I spent 30mins begging with her to let me know go to hospital and have an epidural.

At midday though something changed and I knew I just had to push at which point I really focused again and at 1225pm my little girl was born in the pool delivered by me.

It was absolutely amazing and the best feeling in the world seeing my little girls head just waiting there to be delivered and me pulling her body up through the water. I know it sounds a little gushing but it was a special moment that I will never ever forget.

So Eleanor Elizabeth arrived weighing a healthy 8lb 3oz and is so long that none of her newborn clothes fir her!!!

She is breastfeeding beautifully and again something that didn't happen for me last time.

So for anyone who is in any doubt about a home birth I can only recommend it with the absolute highest praise.

My midwives were fabulous and I was in my own bed with a cuppa by 2pm having had a lovely bath.

Thanks for reading and I hope it inspires others to give it a go..

xx

Congratulations on the birth of Eleanor. Well done, what a lovely story. You should be so proud of yourself.
xx

well done you - and congratulations. I fully agree - my son Jacob was born at home on 18th april, and having a homebirth was definitely the best decision for me too.

Ahhh, thanks for sharing your story. I remember the begging to be tranfered for an epidural well. Many congratulations to you and family....what did your lo think when she got back? I'm going to see if my lo will be ok staying for this homebirth, I would love her to be there.

Thats a great story and is just the reason I want a home birth.
I hope mine is as sucessul as yours.
xx

What a beautiful birth story, so glad you got the birth you wanted and that you and your little girl are doing well. Congratulations and well done.
Jo xx

Ah thanks for all your replies. Lisa Marie my lo was just fascinated that there was a baby here and seems really thrilled with her at the mo, hopefully this will continue. The only reason she didn't stay for the whole labour and delivery was really because she is only 22 months old and needed watching all the time as she nearly ended up having a go on the gas and air!!! I just couldn't concentrate on both the labour and her at the time.

xx

Congratulations! I'm planning for a home birth and looking into getting a pool. Can I ask what type of pool you used, and would you recommend it?

Helly. XXX

I used the mini eco birth pool in a box. I am 5ft 7" and it was large enough for me. The pool was probably the only reason I was able to cope and I would absolutely recommend it.

Congratulations!! I also used the mini eco pool and found it brillant!!
x

i used the same pool - it was perfect, would def recommend it x