In today’s episode, I’m sharing the story of how my baby, Bobby, finally arrived. It was a real mental challenge waiting — I went past 42 weeks, which felt so long — but it all led to the most incredible moment when I reached into warm water and lifted my son into my own hands. I’d been planning a home birth with my midwife and doula, but at 42 weeks and 2 days, I decided to be induced, which basically means getting a little help to start labor. We used a balloon overnight and then had my waters broken the next morning. I asked the doctors to hold off before using any medicine to speed things up, and that decision, plus all the preparation I’d done, helped me have a calm, natural four-hour water birth that felt really instinctive. Having private midwife made such a difference. My appointments weren’t rushed — they were long, cozy chats at home — and the care after birth was just as supportive. In the months leading up to it, I did a lot of mindset work. I practiced hypnobirthing, listened to positive birth stories every day, and even had a personalised visualisation track that helped me picture how I wanted the day to go. During labor, I focused on slow breathing, low moans, and keeping my jaw and muscles relaxed, which helped stop fear from tightening my body. The last couple of weeks of pregnancy were tough — I couldn’t sleep and my mind kept spinning about when the baby would finally come. But once labor started, all that practice really paid off. We used what we’d learned — things like “spinning babies” positions to help Bobby turn around and even sitting on the toilet (which my midwife called the “dilation station”) to keep things moving. The birth pool became my safe space. I stayed there almost the whole time — breathing, moving, and trusting my body. When it came time to push, it happened slowly and gently, which helped my body stretch naturally and avoid tearing too much. After Bobby was born, my placenta came out easily, I had a small tear that my midwife repaired, and just four hours later we were back home, tucked up in bed in our own space. My midwife and doula kept visiting us at home in those first few days and weeks, helping us ease into the newborn bubble. If you’re planning for birth — whether at home or in hospital — I hope my story reminds you that with the right education, support, and trust in yourself, you can have a calm, hands-off experience, even if things don’t go exactly to plan. You can contact Maddy for Doula support @maddy.thedoula Find me on instagram @madisonvickers Email for collaborations madisonvickers29@gmail.com
