"The surges are big and back-to-back. All I can do is focus on reaching their peak. My mind was very much in athletic mode. The mantra was ingrained - these were natural sensations caused by my muscles working hard. I told myself at the end of each surge, I can do that again."
"They asked if I wanted gas and I declined. Soon they asked about the oxytocin injection to deliver the placenta to which we also declined and I reminded Phil of our birth preferences to give to them. It was all happening so fast we’d forgotten!"
"My body was instinctively doing what it needed to do. I don’t think the midwives really realised how close I was to birth as about 20mins later my little babe popped out into the bath..."
"There he was, our son Leo Mattheus, suddenly, on my belly. My belly that held him, my belly that connected us for all of these months. He was finally here, on the other side - earth side. His beautiful open eyes that had just met mine, his incredible vernix spread all over his beautiful, healthy, long, 10 pound body."
"Just wanted to send you a pic and say thank you. This is Hannah Lorelai, she was born a week early last Monday with a drug and intervention free water birth at Redlands birth suite at Redlands birth suite, a very healthy 3.49kgs and only laboured in hospital for 5hrs."
"She was 4.570kg... I was in utter shock that I had just birthed an even bigger baby than my first and I didn’t have any tears and required no stitches... I wasn’t scared about birthing a big baby because I had so much faith in my body and knew if I’d done it once I could do it again."
"13 hours of completely natural and unmedicated labour our beautiful girl was born just before 6am... I was absolutely euphoric holding our beautiful baby we had been eagerly awaiting. It was truly the birth of my dreams."
"I instinctively felt the need to turn my body around with my back to the bath's edge and my hands gripping the edge. I seemed to be in some kind of spider man pose and I remember hearing Ellen say, that's it, that's your position."
"... pushed a big 9.2 lbs bub, the doctors were so doubtful of me being able to push him out myself, but I proved them wrong."
"At 6.40am, Makybe was born, 9.6pounds/4.35 kilograms! I got my delayed cord clamping & golden hour as requested too. It was the most empowering & healing birth, the complete opposite to my first birth & I am so happy I was well informed & trusted my gut instinct & body."
