A Calm Home Birth by Alana
As this was my second birth, I really hoped it would feel different from my first — not that I regret our son’s home birth in Queensland at all, but I dreamed of a calmer, even more empowering experience this time. Maybe because it was my second birth and I knew what to expect, this labour truly felt so much calmer and more powerful than the first.
We prepared similarly with calm birthing classes lead by Ash, but this time the whole experience felt smoother and more in my control.
In the weeks leading up to Grace’s arrival, we thought she might come early, but she held on and arrived at 40+3. By 40+1, I was very much over being pregnant and asked Ash to do a stretch and sweep to help things along. Labour started and then slowed the next morning. I remembered from calm birthing class that this can happen, so I rested, trusting it would pick up again soon.
On the morning of 40+3, the cramps returned. I was a bit in denial after weeks of on-and-off signs, I knew things were shifting when my show happened. My husband took our son to the park so I could have some quiet time at home. I enjoyed a peaceful morning listening to music and painting a little wooden picture. When they returned, the cramps continued. Our son’s grandparents popped over in the afternoon to check in, and at that point Ash said she’d come by to see how I was progressing. We decided to have the grandparents take our older child home with them, just in case.
We had planned a home birth, so we set everything up in our lounge/dining area. When Ash arrived, my surges were irregular but strong enough that I needed to focus on my breathing. She checked my progress while doing another stretch and sweep and decided to stay as I had dilated a little.
As the afternoon went on and contractions intensified, I leaned heavily on my breathing — something I now realise was the missing piece in my first birth. I also used the TENS machine, birthing comb, and birthing ball, and moved as much as possible — lunging, squatting, and changing positions while breathing through each surge.
I’m not sure exactly when, but my husband and Ash had the bath ready, and I was so eager to get in. After some time in the water, I felt the urge to get out and move to the toilet. I stayed there for quite a while with my husband by my side. Ash and our second midwife Eliza gave us space while checking in regularly. I was completely focused on my husband and breathing through each surge.
At one point, Ash checked my progress. I’m not sure if this was earlier before Eliza arrived, but I wanted to know how far along I was. It turned out I hadn’t progressed as much as I had hoped, which knocked my confidence. Ash gently reassured me with a little white lie that I progressed a little bit more to keep my spirits up, reminding me that with a second baby, things can speed up very quickly at the end.
I struggled for a while after that — I was tired and started doubting that the baby would come anytime soon. Labour seemed to stall. But I got back in the bath for a while then, suddenly and without warning, the urge to push came over me. I felt everything opening and changing. Ash quickly told my husband to turn the camera on if he wanted to film it, and he was surprised because he thought we still had time too. By the time he returned, our precious baby was born just a few minutes later.
The moment she arrived was pure magic — that surreal, beautiful realisation of what we had just done, holding our precious baby in my arms. We hadn’t found out the gender, so discovering we had a baby girl was an extra special surprise.
After some precious time bonding, I got out of the bath and birthed the placenta. It felt so special to do everything in the comfort and safety of our own home. After a shower and checks, we were tucked up in our own bed, eating toast and ready for sleep.
I had a moment of concern with some blood loss and dizziness, our amazing midwife’s got me on fluids straight away and monitored me closely until everything settled. Once stable, they cleaned up and packed everything away, leaving us to rest until our son arrived the next morning to meet his baby sister.
I wouldn’t do it any other way. For me, home birth is the only way I want to bring my babies into the world — provided there are no complications. I feel so blessed to have been able to do this for both of my children. These moments are some of the most precious in my life, and I will always cherish them. I’m especially grateful we filmed this birth the second time around and captured this moment.
A huge thank you to Ash and Eliza for their calm, supportive, and professional care throughout the entire experience — you helped make this birth everything I had hoped for.
Love the Frost Family xx