My first home birth 1 hour labour with my 4th daughter.. Midwife didn’t make it 😅

Just incase anyone would like a read and so I never forget ❤️

On Sunday the 2nd of May, at 11:45pm my waters broke & contractions started instantly.. I woke my partner up, unsure if it was it. But soon realized that during that contraction I was not ok and there was no harm in preparing 😂

At 12:40am on Sunday the 3rd I messaged my midwife that I was having regular contractions 2 minutes apart, but after weeks of false labour was in disbelief it was the real deal.

I had just hoped into the bath, for some relief while my partner was filing the birth pool. Some time soon after this I asked him to wake my older daughters up (11 & 9) because I needed someone to sit with me, while he ran around like crazy getting everything ready 😅

Between now & the pool, things got super intense & time went by so fast. I started repeating the word f**k & couldn’t breathe through the pain. The only thing that shocked me was how I felt normal in between contractions, which I hadn’t remembered feeling with prior births probably because the last 2 were really fast inductions..

I had realized my baby was going to be born on my best friends birthday!! this brought me some comfort I knew she was there even though she couldn’t be 💫

The girls would come in & out trying to remember to do & say all the things that we had prepped prior. Ataahlia kept asking if I wanted a drink & Taya was trying to set up my aromatherapy oils, to help keep things calm & help with the pain. I was timing contractions until 12:42am so this must have been when I hit transition..

At 12:48am I remember yelling that I had some pressure and someone needed to call the midwife, I couldn’t talk. So Taya rung Chloe telling her baby was coming.. (She was about 20 minutes away, I wish I trusted my instincts earlier)

Within the next 10 minutes I walked to the birth pool, & only just made it between a contraction. It was only up to my belly button when I was sitting & so cold in comparison to my hot bath but based off how things were going my partner told me to handle it or else baby would be born in the bath 😂😂

This time went so fast, and I don’t think I had more than 10 contractions in the pool before I knew she was coming.

I yelled out to whoever was around to tell my partner baby was coming.

I wasn’t afraid at all, & trusted my body & that my baby knew what to do. I felt complete ease around me it is surreal to think about.

Hubby’s instincts kicked in, & off came his Jersey & socks. He jumped over to the other side of the pool & waited for Kaea to be born.

I couldn’t not push. I remember hearing a bit of fear in my eldest’s voice. But she was on FaceTime to her Grandparents in Aus & was reassured it was ok, and I was doing what I needed to do..

After a hard couple of pushes, I told my partner her head was out to prepare him she’d be born soon as I had no clue what he could see in the water. Soon after she floated up in the water & I realized & turned around to see her proud Daddy absolutely amazed guiding his 4th daughter out of the water.

Taya and Ataahlia (my daughters) witnessed the whole thing, and when I turned around to grab her she was absolutely perfect and I was so amazed we had done it all on our own!

I looked up at my big girls (who had some reservations of watching etc) both balling their eyes out filled with just as much love & proudness, as we were.

They could not believe we finally had our baby that we had waited so long for ❤️

She was born into a room filled with pure love.

I asked my partner to wake up my 3 y.o as she had been anticipating this moment for such a long time, & she wandered out in shock but complete awe that her little sister was born.

The moment was pure bliss and the room was filled with many more emotions than I ever expected. It was the best decision I ever made having all of my babies be there for such a special moment, a moment our family will treasure for ever.

I wanted to show my girls what women are capable of, & how strong we can be. I didn’t expect to be swearing but that’s ok that’s what I had to do to cope, & at the end of the day I know they were proud & are inspired to push through anything painful or hard that comes their way just like I did.

Kaea was my first birth completely natural, my first home birth. Usually Ive had gas & air.

Our baby girl Kaea, was born at 1:05am perfect, healthy & a chunky 9p 5o.

Living up to her māori name from is the very first moment.. Kaea; leader.

We couldn’t be more blessed & proud ✨

My 4 amazing daughters 🥰