Congratulations Jude - what a wonderful HB story.

Enjoy your babymoon,

Sarah x

congratulations jude, your an inspiration to us all

Congratulations hun. What a fantastic HB story. Welcome to the world Ethan. x    Natalie 18+4

Thank you all for your congrats! Hope all the new mummys and babies are doing well. Labour vibes to anyone still waiting.

Ethan had a great night and slept through from midnight until 9am so that was amazing - a real treat! Certainly not expecting that again tonight!

Jude x

Congratulation again Jude!!!!!!!!!

I posted on the DIAug one.

Well done,

Jen x

Congratulations. Sounds like a lovely calm birth, well done you! x

Well done and congratulations

Welcome to the World baby Ethan

congratulations jude! sounds like a perfect hombirth, well done you!

welcome baby Ethan x x

that sounds perfect. well done! i really hope i get tht kind of homebirth. the other 2 children i had in hospital (well birth centre). they were both water births. reaaly dont think id be able to do it without water this time!

wow, sounds perfect, well done, not so sure i will have time to post my birth story within 24 hours!!

Fantastic! Congratulations! You did amazingly x

CONGRATULATIONS!

That sounds like the perfect homebirth

What a trooper!!

Yesterday at about 11am I started to think that something might be happening. I was getting what seemed to be mild contractions about 15-20 mins apart. It didn't hurt at all so I went ahead with the planned blackberry picking expedition with my mum and boys. It was only 5 mins walk down the road so seemed an ok plan. When we got back just before 12 noon I decided to start timing contractions. At 12 I had the first one that actually hurt and took my breath away.They were 10 mins apart so I rang my husband, Harvey and asked him to come home from work. He got home about 15 mins later and my contractions were between 5-10 mins apart and getting shorter and longer. I was upright in our room at this stage just leaning on the chest of drawers a bit. I asked Harvey to ring the midwife as it was getting more painful and contractions were getting closer very quickly.

The midwife and student arrived about 15 mins later when I'd got myself in the bath. Contractions were coming thick and fast. The midwife was great - very supportive. I was surprised at myself as was managing to control my breathing well and didn't feel the need for pain relief despite the obvious pain! It all felt very controlled and the only noise I was really making was my breathing. The first stage lasted 1 hour 40 mins. I felt really focused on my breathing then suddenly felt the urge to push - I did let out  a few loud groans at this point - surprise surprise - but otherwise it was all so quiet!! Pushing stage was 7 mins. Ethan was really wriggling whilst I was pushing him out! Apparently some babies do this to try and get themselves out.

Ethan's head was born in the water and the water was let out when I was about to push his body out (due to water temp not being monitored).  He was put straight onto me but seemed a little limp for a few seconds. The midwife wasn't worried in the slightest and gave him a quick rub and puff of oxygen and he had a really good cry then. I held him whilst my placenta was delivered (took 11 mins). My 4 year old was most impressed and examined the placenta with the midwives. He said to me after that he wanted to say thank you to the placenta for feeding his baby when he was inside me!!!

Ethan weighed in at 8lb 11oz which was more than I expected. But it's his length which is amazing. He's right off the charts at 60cm!

He took to breastfeeding straight away and is doing really well. The midwife has been back today and the doc has done her checks and all is good. The midwife kept saying how quiet and calm the birth was and how impressed she was so I'm quite proud of myself!! (She said I was almost like that woman in the pool on the unassisted birth programme!) The student was amazed and said I was a great advocate for home births. I aim to please!!!  Shocked at myself actually!

I didn't need any stitches although I do have a slight tear. It was great to have my family about (husband, boys (2 and 4) and my mum). My 2 year old wasn't interested in the birth but my 4 year old kept popping in which was nice and they were both there immediately after birth to see and hold their new brother.

So all in all a pretty amazing home birth experience. I was so glad Ethan came in time for me to have him at home.

Just looked at the time and he's exactly a day old now!

Jude xxxx