Catherine's home birth story during the pandemic

I’m so grateful to Catherine for sharing her incredible second birth…thank you so much for the honour of supporting you for both your gorgeous boys.

‘About a week before my due date we started inflating the birthing pool every night before going to bed - just in case. We thought this way, if labour started during the night, we’d be faster getting it ready, and maybe not wake up our 2 year old... 

So every night before going to bed I would look at it wondering if tonight was the night our baby would be born. 

I was excited and nervous at the same time, but couldn’t wait to meet our baby. 

So when I experienced light cramping and more regular braxton hicks in the days leading to my due date, I was convinced my baby would be here very soon. 

Little did I know, our baby boy had other plans, and that he would let me wait a few more days...

During this time Jenna was a great support. Being there with her wisdom, knowledge about birth and calmness made me feel safe. Whenever I spoke to her I felt empowered and was looking forward to birth and this next chapter of my life. 

40+6

I woke up at 6am like every day - or more precise was woken up by my toddler.  

As soon as I opened my eyes, I realised I had cramps again. As this was something I’ve gotten used to over the weeks,  i didn’t think much about it and decided to just go on with the day. Usually once I moved the cramps would fade anyways. 

But not this time. 

We all cuddled up in bed for half an hour before we got up and made breakfast. 

I’m usually a morning person and can’t wait to have breakfast, but on this day I felt a bit odd. The cramps wouldn’t go away, so I decided to just have a bit of water and hold on with breakfast until later that morning. 

7am While my husband and son enjoyed their breakfast the cramps got stronger. 

Moving wouldn’t make them go away, instead I felt most comfortable bouncing on the birthing ball focussing on my breath. 

Inhale 1,2,3,4 - Exhale 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

I started timing them, as they slowly got stronger... 

7.30 During my antenatal appointments I’ve always been told to call triage when I have 2 surges in 10 minutes. As a second time mum, with a fast first labour, it was recommended not to wait until 3 in 10, as things could speed up fast. 

I had timed my contractions now for a good half hour at this stage but wasn’t at the 2 surges in 10 minutes yet more a 2 in 15... 

The cramps were coming in waves and got stronger each time... By that time, I knew my baby would be earthside soon. 

7.55 My husband called triage to let them know how I was doing; as expected they advised to call back when closer to 2 in 10. 

But they also confirmed they would inform the homebirth team, to let them know things are happening, so they’d be ready. 

Next he called Jenna to update her as well.

In the meantime, I went to the bathroom. In between surges I had gone to the bathroom several times. Clearly my body was getting ready for labour... i remembered this stage when I had my first, shortly after my waters had gone but still hours before he was born. 

8am  As I was walking back downstairs, the next contraction forced me on all fours. I could no longer walk. Breathing was all of a sudden a challenge. I held on to the stairs, breathing. 

Inhale one, two, three four. 

Exhale one, two, three, four... eight. This one was tough. I was out of breath. 

8.05  My husband came upstairs... we decided to call Jenna again, to let her know she should come to the house now; to call triage again for them to send someone from the homebirth team and to get the pool ready.  He went downstairs for the calls and to also be with our toddler, I stayed on the stairs... 

8.10 The next surge came, strong again. Without thinking I crawled back to the bathroom, as my waters were breaking.  The next surge came and i yelled for my husband to come upstairs. I could feel the baby’s head moving through my pelvis. 

He ran upstairs and called 999 immediately. 

My 2 year old had heard me yelling for my husband, so he came upstairs as well to see what was going on. 

The next big surge came, i could feel the baby’s head moving further down. 

My husband - while on the phone with 999 - put our son into the bathtub next to us. 

I managed to catch some breath and told my son everything was ok. ‘We’re having a baby, bubba.’

The next surge came and with it, baby‘s head was out. 

I looked at my son who at that point excitedly shouted: ‘Mummy! Mummy! Baby!’

I heard my husband speaking on the phone with 999, telling me to start panting.

8.16am A last surge from my body. Gentle. 

My husband’s hands supporting our baby as he was born. Carefully. 

My son looking at his parents and his little brother. Amazed. 

Our baby boy was born. ️ 

The ambulance and Homebirth Team midwife arrived minutes after baby was born.

So did Jenna. 

She stayed with me through the third stage of labour and afterwards. She held me, helped me move, shower even...  we joked, we laughed, we celebrated this amazing birth. 

She held my baby and entertained my toddler so my husband and I could have a moment. 

In these moments she was not just our doula, she was a best friend and family.’

Thank you so much for your kind words Catherine, you’re SO amazing xxx

If you’re intrigued about second time births and why they can be so different, take a look at mine and Natalie Medding’s video…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjPOX3Q75fw&t=765s

Doula love

Jenna

x

Jenna is an experienced birth and postnatal doula working in Surrey and South West London.