Tina and Mark’s Birth Story. Home Waterbirth August 2006

Tina’s Story

I was expecting my second baby and booked with an Independent Midwife who’d looked after me when I gave birth to my first baby 2 years previously. I hoped I would go into labour before my due date as my chosen midwife would not be available afterwards (she would be on her honeymoon). As the date approached she introduced me to another Independent Midwife called Joy Horner. I was happy with my midwife’s recommendation as I knew and trusted her. I met Joy just before my due date and we had another 4 appointments before I went into labour. During this time we discussed what my options were if my labour would not start in the next couple of weeks. I felt supported in my decision to await natural labour, but was happy for the baby to be monitored at the hospital.

On Sunday 13^th August I was 12 days past my estimated due date and I went for a CTG at the hospital to assess my baby. The test was fine and I returned home with a plan to return to the hospital for an ultrasound the next day. I asked Joy if I could have a membrane sweep which she did that day.

I woke on Monday morning and felt my waters break at 08:45. I sat on the toilet laughing at how funny it was feeling my waters trickling away. Mark sent Joy a text at 08:50 and she was with us by 9:20am.

I was sat on the settee on a towel, Mark was with me and my mum was on her way. Mark started filling the birth pool and my daughter had her breakfast as Joy checked my pulse and blood pressure and listened to the baby’s heartbeat. I had some tightenings at 10am and my mum arrived to look after Jennifer. By 10:15 I was having contractions every 5 to 10 minutes lasting about 45 seconds. At 11am Joy called the second midwife to attend. When the pool was full I got in and felt great relief. The pain was more intense than my first birth (Joy told me afterwards that my baby was in the OP position, with his back to my back). This caused me lots of backache and pressure which felt like I wanted to push. Joy couldn’t see the baby’s head and after a while asked if she could do an internal to assess what was happening. I was 6cm dilated and my waters broke. The pains became extremely uncomfortable and I found it hard to get comfortable. Mark reminded me to concentrate on my breathing which really helped.

I was only occasionally aware of my daughter as she played happily in the next room. I felt the pressure increasing and knew that I was almost ready to push my baby out. I insisted that I had to go to the toilet and mum went with me, but Joy was just outside as she knew how close I was to giving birth. Mark, Joy, and mum helped me hurriedly back into the pool where I knelt and felt myself pushing. It must have only been a couple of pushes before his head was born. One more push and my son Jack was born at 2:32pm in the pool. Joy passed him through my legs and into my arms. I was so pleased that I had done it and that he was healthy. Mum and Jennifer came over to the pool and we all kissed. Jack was so alert, he had his eyes open as soon as he came out. I soon remembered that I had to push out the placenta. It didn’t seem to be coming so I decided to leave the pool. As I stood up the placenta came away at 3pm. What a relief. Mark cut the cord and I walked to the settee where we all sat admiring Jack. He breastfed straight away and Mark put on his first nappy and dressed him. He weighed 8lb 6oz and giving birth had hurt a lot. After a while Mark and I walked out onto the balcony and he proposed to me. We returned and showed the midwives the ring and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. I had something to eat and drink and was pleased to learn that I didn’t need any stitches.

It was incredible knowing and trusting my midwives before the birth.

Mark’s story

This was my first child with Tina and my first experience of home birth. I was really quite nervous beforehand and didn’t know what to expect. I had lots of questions for Joy in the lead-up to Jack’s birth. I never felt silly asking any questions and would advise other men to ask as many questions as possible. I felt included being present at the antenatal appointments, and felt part of the whole experience.

On the day of the birth there was always something to do. Call Joy, fill the pool, look after Jennifer, make tea for everyone etc. I held Tina’s hand, offered her sips of water and mopped her brow (which she got fed up with at one point and asked me to stop). I topped up the pool with hot water and kept the midwives topped up with tea!

I will never forget the look on Tina’s face as she held our son for the first time. The birth was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I would recommend home birth to anyone, it was so calm and I felt so comfortable. It was the best day of my life.