Natalia's Story

A Home HypnoBirth

We’re pleased to announce the very safe and relaxed arrival of Penelope Scarlett Dearnley on Friday, 6^th November at home to the fanfare of bonfire night fireworks!

Penny kicked off her contractions at about 1pm on Friday in response to us visiting and cuddling our friend’s 5 week old son, Luca so all credit to him getting Penny off the starting block! By 4pm the intensity had increased quickly and dramatically but it was nothing the Tens machine and brilliant breath coaching from Andrew and our fantastic doula, Belinda couldn’t help with. Our wonderful independent midwife, Rene arrived at 6pm and we were in full flow after labouring on the birth ball and the birth chair Andrew built played a starring role! After an antenatal check, Andrew and I were able to get into the big birth pool set up in the dining room. What a relief! In fact, I managed to nod off between contractions!

Contractions progressed strongly and regularly with a slowdown in the hour approaching 9.20pm which meant a catheter for a rather full bladder but from then on we were steaming ahead with some loud grunting in comparison to earlier (but I’m told it wasn’t too bad!) and with Penny crowning at 10.25pm and making her full entrance to the world from the warm, buoyant water into her daddy’s and then mummy’s arms at 10.31pm.

Penelope took a little while to become interested in breastfeeding but once going drank for England while we waited (and pushed!) on the birth chair for the placenta to deliver, which it did fully intact 1hr 20min after Penny.

Eventually weighed and measured after taking her place in our new fancy Tester family bed that Andrew built, Penny weighed 7lbs 9½ oz (3440g) with a head circumference of 34cm and approx length of 51cm. Penelope went off to sleep first at about 2.30am with mummy and daddy too excited about reading all the birthing notes to fall asleep until 3.30am!

Back to All Stories page

Natalia’s Story