“The calming atmosphere of giving birth in my home helped me to know and trust that I could do it and always having my husband there with me… I never knew birth could be quite so wonderful.”

When I had my third child, I was really worried about what life would be like when he was born in September 2020. I found out I was pregnant just before COVID-19 hit. My first two births were traumatic, for varied reasons, so I had hoped for a calming and peaceful birth at home in a birth pool. Coronavirus threatened all my dreams.

I felt enormously lucky to be under the care of a wonderful midwife who understood all my reasons for wanting a home birth. I also spoke to the most wonderful, supportive consultant who respected my choices, too.

My son was born in a pool at my home with two midwives who read my birth plan and let me get on with what worked best for me. It took 11 hours from waters breaking until he was born and, in that time, I learned how strong I was and how amazing it was to let my body tell me how to birth. I listened to what my body wanted and stayed active, changing positions when I felt right. The calming atmosphere of giving birth in my home helped me to know and trust that I could do it and always having my husband there with me (plus my older children upstairs with their grandparents) was truly amazing. It felt animalistic and primal, I have never felt as powerful in those moments at any other time in my life.

I never knew birth could be quite so wonderful and, once he was born, I simply shouted, over and over, “I did it! I made him and I did it!”

I was elated for weeks afterwards and felt like an absolute queen for trusting in myself and my body to give birth the way I wanted to, surrounded by love, beautiful birthing artwork and affirmations that - four months on - are still mounted on my living room wall. Thank you MTW home birth community team and consultant for your faith in me - and my ability to give birth to my son. It was the healing experience I had dreamed of.

Tannice, Maidstone