my homebirth story

ell my baby Jacob Henry Charles put in an appearance 4 days early in the end - and I was convinced he'd be late! I had the home water birth I wanted though, so am really pleased.
My contractions started at about 6pm on Thursday, and I managed all night with having a bath, tens machine, etc. I wasn't expecting it to make me vomit - I started throwing up at about 2.30am and couldn't keep anything down after that.
A midwife came out at 10am on Friday, I was 2cm dilated so she left again and told me to keep going, so I managed all day with tens machine. A different midwife came back at about 7.30pm, who then stayed all Friday night. By 10pm I was 5-6cm dilated so she did a sweep to try and get things moving a bit faster, and I started walking up and down the stairs to try and help. Contractions did then get more painful and closer together and I got in the pool at about 12pm, and started on the gas and air at about 1.30pm. I was finally fully dilated at about 5am, and Jacob came out into the pool with one big push at 5.50am Saturday morning. I was exhausted after being awake for 48 hours, but so happy it all went smoothly and Jacob is absolutely perfect!

I am so glad I had a homebirth - I was comfortable and happy and felt completely in control the whole way through. The midwives were amazing - I actually had 4 of them at one point, the 2 planned for the birth, a student, and another one who had come to bring more gas and air! I doubt you often get 4 midwives fussing over you in hospital ;\) I would recommend a homebirth to anyone who feels it might be for them.

Jo