Home Birthing South West

Midwives providing continuity of care

Indigo's Story

19^th August 2006

When we fell pregnant with our second child we decided that we wanted a water birth at home. I had carried well first time round and had a water birth in hospital without any problems with our son. Being at home I believed would be beneficial to me, my partner and my son.

Anjie and Susan were our midwives throughout my pregnancy, coming to the house often when Dave (my partner) was home and really giving us time to talk about anything and everything. Knowing that they would be at our birth was fantastic and that our request for a positive natural birth experience was supported fully.

It was Saturday 19^th August, and I still had 18 days to go, when Indigo decided today was the day. I had been shopping and at the hairdressers I had period like cramps but nothing bad, I contacted Anjie when my mucous plug came away. Late in the afternoon I continued shopping and we kept in contact regularly. It was about 5pm and I was heading to the in laws to pick up Dave and Saxon. I was in their house when my waters broke suddenly. I contacted Anjie and headed home.

We arrived home and the contractions were very strong I got straight into the shower as I find water helped me especially on my lower back. In the mean time Dave was putting up the pool, we weren’t quite prepared as we thought we had a few more weeks.

Anjie and Susan arrived it was about 6.30pm, I was glad when they got here. I was happy we had made the decision to have the birth at home; being in my own space was amazing. Dave finished putting up the pool; we were lying on our bed, Dave massaging my back, helping me through my contractions. He was amazing saying and doing the right things.

Anjie had given me some homeopathics for anxiety, pain etc. I found these helped immensely. Anjie and Susan didn’t interfere they just let us be and do what we wanted as a couple

I got the urge to push and wanted to get in the pool a.s.a.p. Dave got in with me, the pool was warm and oils were burning, candles were lit around the house. I was on my knees leaning on Dave; he was massaging my lower back. Then I got onto my back and with the next contraction the head was out, we then got to meet our beautiful baby.

Both of us gazing at this life we had created and birthed together. Dave told me we had a baby girl, I was in awe. She had been born at 19.47 just 12 minutes after I got in the pool. We had time to share those first precious moments still attached to the umbilical cord. Anjie and Susan taking photos for us, it was the most amazing experience.

Dave got out of the pool with Indigo and I birth the placenta. Then I got into my robe and got into my own bed with our daughter. Susan made us Milo and crumpets. I couldn’t praise Anjie and Susan enough for making the birth of our daughter exactly how we had planned. Everything was relaxed and intimate.

Saxon our son was brought home that night unaware of what had happened and when he woke up in the morning he got to meet his little sister. No time away in hospital for me was a definite plus. We could all be a family.

Thanks Anjie and Susan for making our dreams come true.

Happy mum Marie

Luci's story

My Exquisite Homebirth Experience 13.6.2007

Every time I think of the birth of Luci I am overwhelmed with emotion. It was the most amazingly beautiful day of my life. I was surrounded by with love, support and angels! It was a celebration of life. I want to thank my Mum, Dad, Colleen and both my amazing midwives, Angela and Susan. I was blessed that all those beautiful people were right there with me throughout my pregnancy and my labour of love. I chose to have a waterbirth in my home and couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.
Big loves to all of you from me and my little Lucianne.

Sebastians Birth Story

November 11, 2008

For the birth of my second child my husband Craig and I had planned a home water birth. It was all very exciting leading up to the birth as we felt like we had some control over the experience. I felt really positive about having a drug free birth and just couldn’t wait for the day to come.
At 37 weeks I woke up at 7am to feel my waters slowly breaking. This was the day we had been waiting for!
Labour established itself pretty quickly and after the initial excitement we thought we had better start timing contractions as they seemed to be coming pretty thick and fast. They were every two minutes from the get go, just like my first labour!
By 8am my husband had called my midwives, Anjie and Susan, and as soon as they arrived they started filling the birthing tub. With the lounge room lit with candles and relaxation music playing I felt so safe and that I was in the best care possible.
I spent most of the next hour and a half being quite active, pacing from the bedroom to the lounge and spent a lot of time leaning over the bed post squeezing my husbands hands for dear life! My midwives were also taking turns to rub my lower back which felt wonderful.
By about 9:45 am my midwives were getting very anxious for me to get in the tub.
Having a home birth with no intervention meant not having any internal examinations and my midwives did not feel it necessary either. They could tell how things were progressing by the deep moaning sounds I was now beginning to make! This baby was not far off!
By now the pain between each contraction was not disappearing and seemed to be lingering on and rolling into the next. I also felt pressure on my hips which must have been the baby moving down. After my husband suggested the water again I finally hopped in the tub. It was absolute bliss! The water seemed to envelope me and I felt so safe. I fully relaxed and this seemed to speed things up even more. My midwife placed a mirror on the bottom of the tub and suggested I might try to feel inside for the bubs head. I did and I could feel it. Wow, my baby was really coming!
Soon after, it was then that I felt an overwhelming urge to push and with the next contraction my babys head was born into my hands. That was the most amazing feeling I had ever experienced. Apparently I held my babys head in my hands and looked up at my husband and my midwives and smiled! I instinctively pushed myself back into the middle of the water to then birth my babys body. With the next contraction, and without tearing, I birthed the shoulders and the body followed easily turning into my arms. I will never forget looking down through the water at my babys face looking up at me as I brought him to the surface. At 10:25 am our beautiful baby boy had been born. He let out a hearty cry not long after being brought to the surface and remained in the water with me for a while, just cuddling and taking everything in. He was so placid immediately after and to this day our little boy Sebastian has such a beautiful and calm nature. I can’t help but wonder if the calm and loving way he was brought into the world has something to do with it. As for birthing at home and in water, it just felt so right and I wouldn’t want to do it any other way.