3.5 years ago, I shared my birth story about my home birth despite being diagnosed with GBS (Group B streptococcus).

Now I can share a happy birth story again, despite general recommendations :
On Thursday, January 30, 2025, 4 days before the due date, my little sister was born 🎀

It was a ✨ dream birth in water 🫧

My water broke at 2 am, and the contractions started after a few hours and slowly but steadily increased in strength. The labor lasted just under 9 hours from the time my water broke until she was born.



Detailed birth report for those interested ( positive experience ) :

At 2 am I woke my husband up with these words "Honey, turn on the light, I think I peed in bed!" (classic). But after "peeing" in bed 3 times and it just kept happening, I had to admit that it probably wasn't peeing.
...During the night, my husband had to go in to see one of our children because they woke up early in the morning and I was joined by my oldest boy, who is 9 years old.

At 5:40 a.m. I told my big boy that I was pretty sure my little sister would be coming today and that he therefore didn't have to go to school (because he wanted to be there for the birth).
At 6 a.m. we got up and I asked my husband to stay home from work.
At 6:15 we called the midwife, who said my husband could go to work (he was supposed to be there at 9:15). We agreed to keep an eye on it and contact her if things progressed, as the contractions were not regular and not that strong.
At 7:20 a.m. I had to throw up while sitting on the toilet and my husband suddenly got busy taking the two youngest siblings to kindergarten AND called his employer and told him that after all, he had better stay home with his wife who was giving birth (!).
At 7:45, my husband was home again and we waited for our helper, who was going to take a swab to the hospital (due to the finding of group B streptococci).

At 8:40 our helper was here.
At 8:45 I thought the midwife should come NOW, so my husband called her. We then contacted the company that would be responsible for collecting stem cells from the umbilical cord. They wanted to send a midwife who had an hour's drive!
At 9:30, my midwife walked through the door (it was a nice reassurance). She unpacked and got ready. Then she did the swab on me, which was to be taken to the hospital - and we sent our helper off.
Meanwhile, our big boy, 9 years old, was at home, as he had always said he wanted to attend the birth. He came and went down to the living room as he pleased and otherwise played on the iPad in his room on the first floor.
After the vaccination, my midwife (with 37 years of experience) had to examine me internally and just as she had determined "You are 4, no 5... centimeters dilated", my lower abdomen started to hurt A LOT. "Ouch, it hurts! Why does it hurt!?",
-I don't know, my sweet midwife had to admit...

All the while, my husband was busy getting the delivery room ready and fighting a brave battle with the hot water tank to keep up! Along the way, I called him when I had contractions, which were now quite strong and definitely working for my body!

...A little later, the midwife concluded that she had come to use hand sanitizer instead of lubricant to examine my poor abdomen. She regretted it and it was something that had never happened to her before. Actually, comically enough, this was the worst thing I experienced in connection with childbirth!

At 9:45 a.m. the second midwife showed up to collect stem cells. It was quite cozy, as both midwives knew each other through their work with stem cells.
At 10:00 a.m. I had blood tests taken for stem cell collection.
At 10:15 I got into the delivery room and it was wonderful with the warm water, especially against my lower back!
My big boy came down and checked in several times along the way, but when the press phase began he withdrew.

The contractions increased in strength and I sat in different positions in the birthing tub, while squeezing my labor balls (wooden balls with spikes), which, through acupressure, direct the brain's attention to a different pain than the one in the lower back, abdomen, etc.*
When I asked my seasoned midwife what to do, her answer was "Listen to your body, it tells you what to do."

At approximately 10:40 the actual pushing phase started and lasted 4-5 pushing contractions. My little sister's head and body were born in one push contraction, where I pushed in two rounds.

At 10:47 she was born. She weighed 2,850 grams and was 52 cm long. I guessed her weight right after birth, exactly like with her older sister.
Big brother came down to the living room just as little sister swam out into the water, where I welcomed her 🫧

At approx. 12:30 there was a response from the swab and it was unfortunately positive. This meant that we had to go to the hospital for observation for 48 hours, as streptococci can infect babies with meningitis/blood poisoning. I was hospitalized with the baby and dad had to drive home so he could take over the nursing from grandma, who had been called in as a nanny.

After 24 hours, in consultation with the pediatrician (against the general recommendation), we were allowed to go home, where we still had to be aware of symptoms of infection. Dad and the two youngest siblings, older brother aged 3 and older sister aged 5, came out to pick us up at the hospital 🥰

PS Giving birth at home despite the discovery of GBS (group B streptococci) is against the general recommendation. I have chosen this in consultation with my husband, just as we chose for the 3rd birth. My midwife agreed with my choice, but was not allowed to officially say "good for it". Unofficially, we had no doubt that she was completely comfortable giving birth at home with me.

✨ Feel what feels right and safe for you - no matter what situation you are in regarding birth ✨