It's something many of us associate with seeing on TV or reading about with A-list celebrities, but home births are on the rise and one local health trust in Northern Ireland is leading the way.
Since they started in November 2021, the team of dedicated birth-at-home midwives in the Southern Trust have worked with community colleagues to birth 30 babies at home with more planned in the coming months.
One of those mums was 32-year-old Jemma Cadelle from Co Armagh, whose daughter Malaya was born in their home in January 2022.
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The Portadown woman spoke to Be to share her experiences of using the service for her second child, having given birth to her first daughter, Munroe, in Craigavon Area Hospital in August 2020.
Jemma said a home birth was something she had never heard of happening locally but as soon as the idea was talked about she knew it was for her.
She explained: "My first daughter was born in August 2020, so right in the middle of Covid. I had such a straightforward birth, I had no complications, and delivered her naturally, everything was perfect in that way, but the fact that it was during Covid made it so much harder.
"My husband had to leave an hour after I gave birth and then he wasn't allowed back in until the afternoon when he was only allowed in for an hour again. He came in to visit us and found me crying on the bed because the baby hadn't fed well, they were having to give her formula, it was just a whole big upheaval for us.
"I know I was in a privileged position that I did have straightforward birth because I know of others who went through really traumatic births and C-sections during Covid. But when it came to my second birth I decided I didn't want to be in the hospital and I just also didn't want to leave my other wee girl.
"It was my sister who was telling me about the home birthing team in our Trust. So when I went to my appointment I asked about it and I was a bit skeptical but the midwife said I would be perfect for a home birth and she referred me to the team, it was literally the next day they got in touch."
Jemma admits she was worried about some negative reaction from her family, as her mother-in-law is a retired midwife but said she received nothing but support for her decision from those close to her.
"I messaged my mother-in-law and told her what I was thinking and she phoned me and I was expecting an earful about why not to do it, but she was so supportive, she said she knew the woman heading up the team and she agreed that I was the perfect candidate.
"I knew things had changed from Covid but I really had made my mind up that I wanted to have my birth at home and everyone around me supported me which really meant a lot. I didn't want to tell my mum and dad as I didn't want any criticism that might put me off, but they were so supportive too."
When it came to having her birth at home, the mum-of-two was full of praise for the team who helped her right through her pregnancy and labour at home.
"The home birthing team were amazing, I had to get my blood taken for my iron levels and they even came and did that at home. I didn't have to go back to the hospital for those appointments, it was so good, not having to worry about car parking at the hospital and all that.
"I always say my first birth was perfect but my second birth changed my life, it changed my whole outlook on giving birth. People warned me it goes a lot quicker, but I wasn't prepared for how quickly it was going. We had a plan for who would take my daughter when it happened but my contractions started around 3pm and I was in well-established labour by 5pm, so that was quick."
With her husband sorting their eldest daughter Munroe for bed, Jemma felt her labour progressing faster and by 6.30pm she made her way downstairs to the gas and air which was delivered to her home when she was 37 weeks pregnant.
"At half 6 I knew I had to get the gas and air downstairs but it took me ages to get down the stairs I was really struggling so my husband phoned Paula, my midwife, luckily she only lives a few minutes from us which was so convenient.
"As soon as she came in, I explain it like, it was stepping out of the airplane on a hot holiday, I just felt this calm and warmness come over my body. She had been coming to my house every two weeks during my pregnancy and we had built up a real rapport. I just knew when she came in that everything was fine and she was going to look after me, it was such a sense of security."
With a birthing pool also already delivered to her home, Jemma's husband and midwife started to get it ready for the birth, which Jemma described as 'so peaceful and calm'.
"I was progressing so, so quick, and another midwife arrived at this stage and they were brilliant like getting me water, putting cold cloths on my forehead.
"The midwives explained everything to me and she was born at 9.25pm in the pool with my husband supporting me. It was just so peaceful and calm. We have dimmer lights in the living room and she had turned them down for us, it was just so relaxing. They weren't doing coach pushing with me either they just trusted me to know, and they supported me the whole way through.
"If I could bottle that feeling and sell it, I would, it's just so empowering to be honest. After she was born and we spent some time doing skin-to-skin, and they helped me upstairs to get changed and dressed. The midwives then just went out to the kitchen to do their notes and they just left myself and husband to soak in the loveliness of our newborn and they kept checking in on me and my blood pressure, it really was so special," added Jemma.
With big sister Munroe, 2, asleep upstairs throughout the entire birth, Jemma said it was extra special to have her wake up to her new baby sister Malaya, at home in the living room.
"It felt so good to relax on my own sofa with my husband and then when my wee girl woke up the next morning, she came down the stairs and was just so delighted, it was like Christmas morning all over again for her.
"It really was unbelievable," added Jemma.
To find out more, expectant mothers interested in birthing at home can Email: birth.athome@southerntrust.hscni.net or discuss with your midwife as early as you can in your pregnancy.
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