Home birth it is!

It was around 23:00h on August 20th. Zlatan was getting ready to watch NFL and I was ready for bed. But I kept running back and forth from the bathroom. I ordered Zlatan to make things ready because our baby was coming!

When in labor everything is a blur. You don’t have a time sense. You’re in your own bubble.

In a blink of an eye, Zlatan has made everything ready, and put some calm music on and dimmed the lights. We had a mattress on the floor by the sofa where the table usually was. It was covered with bed wetting sheet and so was parts of the sofa + some towels. I hate to lie on my back during labor. My scoliosis makes it even more difficult so I prefer bending over the bed/sofa what ever. This worked with Adriana at the hospital so this was the plan this time.

We called the hospital approx. 23:20 to let them know I was in labor.

They told us to get back to them when the contractions were regular. Every time I sat down the contractions prolonged and weren’t coming regularly. As soon as I walked around the apartment they hit me so bad and with no breaks.

Meanwhile, I quickly checked for my friend’s work schedule and saw that she had to go to work at 7:00. We’ve planned that she’d participate if possible. She knows me too well and she’s the best – I remember she took care of me when I was ill, and I took her hand and told her I want you by my side the day I give birth. (something like that!). I couldn’t imagine anyone else to assist us. Thank you, Kathrine ❤️

I don’t remember the precise time when Kathrine came but it was around midnight. I sat in the sofa so did Zlatan, and Kathrine sat in the chair across from me. We sat and talked because she got a new job and was moving. Interrupted by small breaks with contractions. At some point Zlatan told me to get up and walk because the contractions didn’t come regularly anymore. So I did.

Blackout

This is where things get blurry for me. I remember I got up and the contractions came faster and faster. I went to the bathroom and they followed – Zlatan with the contraction app 😂. Damn, they where really powerful. I couldn’t stand up anymore so I wanted to get on my knees on the mattress. On the way to the mattress I panicked,

OMG, we forgot to call the hospital again!

Zlatan called them and they told us that the midwife will arrive within an hour. At this point it was 1 o’clock – ish. Kathrine made some cold cloths for me, which I got addicted to! Oh, the relief when they touched my forehead. It was like I didn’t had any breaks between the contractions. Wow. Before I knew it, I had to PUSH, and at the same moment I heard the doorbell. The midwife was here and she got on the floor so fast that I didn’t even saw her face. She affirmed us that I was 10 cm open (no shit) and the baby would be here soon. Kathrine was occupied with changing the cloths for my forehead and at the same time sit next to me so I could hold her hand – really tight! Zlatan held my other hand and never let go. If you’re wondering about my position at this time, I was kneeling on the mattrass in the corner of the chaiselong/sofa while Kathrine and Zlatan sat/lay on the sofa. I remember the midwife saying “kom så, dumme vand” (begging the water to break), and then she got all excited and told us, “He’s coming out in his caul” – that’s why the water didn’t brake. Being (partly) born in the caul is thought to bring good luck. When the head was out the caul and water broke.

The midwife was only in the appartment for 30 minutes when we welcomed Aydin to the world

Our baby boy, Aydin, was born on August 21th at 2.31 h.

He was HUGE 🙈! The midwife kept saying “he’s a big baby” but I couldn’t see it. I guess I forgot how small babies are. Aydin was 56 cm and 4660 g 😯 and I couldn’t belive I gave birth to such a big baby. He had the longest cord the midwife had ever seen. The caul was big too, which is normal when the baby was that big haha. Zlatan drove Kathrine home at 4-ish and the midwife stayed a bit longer. Adriana had slept through it all and we couldn’t wait for her to meet her baby brother.

DEFINITELY! I had an amazing control over my body. I owned the contractions not the other way around. I felt his movement after each contraction and the progress too. The midwife did a great job even though she didn’t have much time. She cleaning EVERYTHING and you couldn’t even see that I have given birth in the living room. Zlatan was amazed by the whole thing, and so was I.

I loved the part where I could stay in my bed or sofa with my baby on top of me and just embrace the moment ❤️

I’d wish everyone could experience this, unfortunately, some women can’t give birth at home. I’m mainly sharing this because no one mentioned hole births to me when I was pregnant with Adriana. I didn’t know anything about it. I didn’t know that if a pregnancy isn’t complicated it’s safe to give birth at home, and the risk for medical or surgical interventions are lower than at hospitals – because it’s easier and available at hospitals! Even if it’s not necessary.

We received mostly shocked reactions from people.

ally, because people have the tendens to think “we have hospitals why give birth at home” and that it’s “old-fashioned”. The reality is that WE – the women with no complications during pregnancy and no former complicated births – are not in the risk zone to need medical or surgical help/intervention. We block the space from the ones who really need it. The hospitals are full and the staff can barely give the propper service, or the service level they desire to give. We should welcome these opportunities with open arms – we are born to reproduce, no one should doubt one’s ability to do it no matter where the place is.

So there you go. My second birth. At home. Naturally. All fierce.