Joey’s Positive Home-Birth Story

(First-time mum, 37 years old, 41+6 days spontaneous pregnancy after failed IVF, low amniotic fluid, meconium in waters)

The journey to pregnancy wasn’t straightforward. First came a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s, then, a year later, surgery that revealed blocked tubes and endometriosis. A specialist told me I would never conceive without IVF. I was heartbroken that I wouldn’t experience that dream of a baby choosing when to join us.

We tried IVF and the first round failed. After that, I turned to what I know best: natural and metaphysical healing. I researched endlessly about unblocking tubes through diet, womb hara massage, and mentally letting go of the outcome. Incredibly, I fell pregnant naturally three months later.

Pregnancy was mostly smooth, apart from nausea that lasted until 27 weeks. I chose a low-intervention approach: I declined vaccines, skipped Strep B testing, and only had two scans.

At 41 weeks, I requested a scan for reassurance. As a first-time mum, I was already feeling pressure to “get things moving.” The scan showed low amniotic fluid. Within minutes I was on a maternity ward, strapped to monitors, and told to induce immediately. My partner stepped in and we declined, still hoping for a home birth. Our midwife reassured us we could monitor day by day, which gave me the confidence to trust my instincts.

At 41+5 another scan revealed fluid levels had dropped further. This time, my midwife agreed it was decision time: either induction in hospital or breaking my waters at home to try and start labour. If it didn’t work, I’d need to transfer to hospital 1.5 hours away. We decided to break my waters the next morning at 9am - not realising I’d already be holding my baby by then.

That night in the shower I spoke to my baby: “If you want to come tomorrow, it will have to be in hospital. If you want to be born at home, in the pool, you need to come tonight.” An hour later, as I got into bed, contractions began - strong, fast, and close together.

While my partner rushed around managing our two dogs, inflating and filling the pool, and setting up the birth space, I focused on staying centred. The next nine hours were intense but deeply instinctive. I leaned into the rest between contractions, stayed silent, and let my body take over. Hormones carried me into another world. I laboured mostly in the shower on all fours or in the pool, but something felt stuck.

Unbeknown to us, baby was posterior. My midwife suggested moving around and even prepared a catheter, thinking a full bladder might be blocking progress. I went back to the toilet and decided to push with my body’s urge - and suddenly, baby began crowning.

We moved quickly to the pool. The atmosphere was surreal. I felt flooded with oxytocin and no pain between contractions, knowing the end was near. His head was born, and after two more pushes his body followed, straight into my arms, unassisted.

From conception to birth, the whole experience was a lesson in trusting my body, the process, and the importance of letting go of control. The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming.

I’ll be forever grateful to my partner, my midwife, and all the positive birth stories and podcasts that helped me prepare. Things could have gone very differently, but instead I healed quickly and we now have our dream baby. I feel incredibly lucky to have had such a positive birth - a gift I know not everyone gets.

Written by Casey Neale