Amelia - birth story

When I reminisce about my first experience of birth, I feel cheated, ill-informed and disempowered. When I lovingly think back to my recent birth experience, I feel proud, empowered and euphoric.

My husband Chris and I were overjoyed when we discovered that we were having another daughter, but my joy soon turned to anxiety, as my first daughter’s birth was traumatic and clinical. I had been induced, and that led to a c-section. I’d predicted this outcome, and I felt much cheated out of having a natural birth.

I first heard about Amber via my friend who was planning a homebirth for her first baby. As soon as I met Amber, I felt she really understood my wish to have my second child at home. Amber supplied me with a plethora of information, of which I absorbed, and made my own choices. I feel this was a spiritual journey in itself; I was slowly becoming empowered, and learning to have faith in my body.

I read so much, mostly positive home birthing stories, and I practiced a lot of hypnotherapy techniques. I ignored the comments that I couldn’t have a VBAC, and stuck with my heart. Then the beautiful day came.

I was very excited to feel the raw pain of labour, so when my surges came, I was breathing through each one with conviction and relaxation. I used a tens machine to assist me to manage the pain. Established labour started at 12 midday on 1st August 2007. Amber sat like a little pixie at the foot of the birthing pool. I loved the comforting affect of the water. I loved feeling like a birth goddess. I followed Amber’s suggestions, and ended up in the bathroom, I couldn’t believe what my body was able to do. I sat on my toilet, and that just seemed to accelerate everything. Wow! This was the only really painful part.

Again, I followed each of Amber's instructions, and growled like a tigress. I asked my hubby Chris to get the mirror, whilst I squatted. Seeing my baby’s head, was just the motivation I needed, to push like I’d never pushed. Her head was born, and this was soon followed by her warm body, tangled in cord. Everything was calm; I delivered the placenta naturally minutes after and sat in a warm bath with my daughter Amelia. Amelia Rose was born at 19.00 weighing 10.1 lbs. with no pain relief.

The most beautiful moment was when my daughter Isabelle met her sister for the first time, and snuggled up with us in bed… MY OWN BED!

Chris and I will always have a home birth from now on, in fact it was so emotional and moving, that I would love to have another baby next year.

Amber is amazing, she has a natural intuition, and a calming aura. She has made all my dreams a reality, and she’ll always be part of our special family.