I tried to lie down again, but quickly realized that I probably wouldn't fall back asleep because of the contractions. At 5:30 a.m., I called the labor and delivery room. I remembered that my midwife had told me to call as soon as I felt signs of labor, especially after a quick five-hour labor with my first child. Even though I didn't feel the contractions were intense, I decided to call the labor and delivery room. We agreed that the homebirth midwife would call me to coordinate more closely. The midwife called at 5:45 a.m. and decided to come to me, even though her shift ended at 8 a.m. She expected the labor to go quickly this time.

I woke my husband up afterwards and asked him to get the birthing tub ready. While he was inflating it and filling it with water, my mother arrived. We agreed to let the eldest sleep under my mother's supervision. After that, things went quickly. The pain in my lower back became more intense, and I sat on the ball with a heating pad over my lower back. We didn't track the contractions, but I felt them coming just as quickly as they were over.

The midwife arrived at 6:25 AM. At 6:35 AM, I got into the tub and felt the pressure of the contractions increase. As the contractions increased in strength, I instinctively began to make deep sounds. I focused on letting the sounds come from the bottom of my belly and out through my body, which felt incredibly soothing. The deep, humming tones helped me find calm and grounding in the midst of the pain, and it made it easier to be present in my body, even as the contractions became more intense.

At 6:45 a.m. my water broke and I had a strong urge to push. I felt the pressure, but the sweet midwife reminded me that these were the “good contractions” and that I would soon meet my baby. I sat on my side in the tub, which was not yet completely full, while my husband kept adding hot water from pots. I asked him to stop and come over to me when I could feel the head far down and pushing. The midwife asked if I wanted to feel it. I did, and I could feel the head all the way down in my abdomen.

After a few contractions, the head came out. It felt like everything was in slow motion. I watched my daughter’s hair flutter in the water as she slowly turned and the rest of her body came out, then I lifted her to my chest. It was 6:58 a.m. I was ecstatic and said the first thing that came to mind: “We did it. We did it, baby,” as I held her close to my chest. It was this moment, in my own living room where I had welcomed my child, that made me want to choose a home birth over and over again.

I sat in the water for a while with my baby close to me and wrapped in warm towels. Afterwards, my husband and I moved to the couch, where I delivered the placenta, which was placed in a bowl. Later, my oldest daughter woke up and was allowed to be there after the birth and meet her little sister, help remove the tub, and witness the beautiful placenta that had been in my belly.

It was an amazing experience. Being able to go straight to the couch where I could sink into the next few days was an incredible feeling. Landing in the comfort of my home without having to leave it made the birth so much more relaxed and personal. The midwife gave us the space we needed and we were able to enjoy our first time together in our own home without any interruptions. The peace and intimacy that the home and the midwife gave us made it an unforgettable and deeply meaningful experience.