Michael 'Mikey' Jack Jacobs - Born at home at 2:20am on Sunday 21st September - 6lb 14oz

Dad's Story
It couldn't have been any better. Coming up to midnight, with the birthing pool set up in the conservatory, lights dimmed, candles burning, music playing and Conor (almost 4) asleep upstairs throughout. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and more, and when it was over being able to just go upstairs to our own bed was great.

5 months ago £2500 seemed a lot of money for having a baby. However, after the traumas of the last time - induced, stirrups, 14hrs, inconsistent advice, and worst of all a traumatised mother and a father that didn't know what to do for the best - all in all a very negative emotional experience that took us a long time to get over. Not an experience to be repeated.

I knew that this time, Cols interests had to be the top priority and that I had to do whatever was needed to ensure that this was the case. From my experiences last time I also knew that I wasn't able to provide the support to Col that I wanted to, due in no small amount to my lack of expertise. So, although not being a great fan of spending money we decide to go ahead with hiring the services of Jane and Laura to take us from the 20 week mark, through the childbirth itself, and on into our first month.. As we got to know the girls and talked through our feelings and hopes I realised very early on that we'd made the right decision and from then onwards I felt relaxed about the upcoming events as I knew the Col was in good hands. It was a massive weight off my mind.

On a more practical note it was very nice to be involved, with the birth, in a useful way, setting up the pool, arranging the room, and choosing the music. I felt useful and relaxed (fairly) which was a whole different experience to the last time where I felt very isolated, not knowing which way to turn. As a friend(?) kindly mentioned, after the event, that was the first project that you've managed to complete on time and to budget - even managed to get the pool back during the standard hire period.

Now that we are successfully passed our first month as a family of four, I can say with full honesty that I would happily pay all that money, and more, for the very positive emotional birth experience that we had, which was due, entirely to the trusting relationship that we had built up with Laura and Jane. Jane and Laura were the reason why this time the result was a happy baby (Michael - 6lb 14oz), a happy mother and a happy family. You can't put a price on happiness and contentment, £2500 is a bargain. The girls were fantastic and I would recommend them and a homebirth to anyone.

Finally, I wish them both continued success with their invaluable midwifery service, and everything else.

Mum's Story

My first experience of childbirth was the almost standard totally interventionist obstetric led hospital delivery: induction, manual breaking of my waters, lying flat on my back for 14 hours with syntocinal drip, baby and blood pressure monitors, a long stretch in stirrups, episiotomy, ventouse delivery and a tapestry of stitches. Recovery was slow, both mental and physically and not helped by the lack of continuity in post natal care, with different midwives at every turn with different views , patience and interest.

I saw an article in the Telegraph about the IMA and got more details on the web. When I finally connected with Jane and Laura , 20 weeks into my second pregnancy, it was the start of a very important and positive relationship.

Until three weeks before my due date I never thought about my 'birth plan', I was in total denial and been unable to commit myself to the idea of a drugs free home birth. At all times I felt Jane and Laura would respect and support whatever decision I made when the time came. I never felt under any pressure to have a home birth. At 37 weeks I sat myself down and listed all the things from my first pregnancy I would like repeated (empty page) and all the things I wanted to be different, some of which were:

• no unnecessary intervention
• no hospital bureaucracy (waiting to be discharged etc)
• no dirty baths, machine made drinks, grey mash potatoes

It became clear to me that a home birth was the only option I had to have an acceptable birth experience. Once I realised this I started to consider a water birth which until then had seemed like a very alternative lifestyle option for one so conventional as myself, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. What do I do when I am tired/sick/ unhappy? I have a nice hot bath!

The labour was text book in execution - had the 'show' 7.30am on Sat - followed by a day of very manageable cramping. Things hotting at around 8.30pm when the midwives were put on 'amber' alert. I had a bath whilst Dan, the pool man - assembled the pool and started filling it up. By 11pm things were definitely happening and the midwives were called and arrived before midnight and I went into the pool - we set it up in the conservatory and had the room dark with just candle light and music - Dan was pool engineer, DJ, and lighting and beverage manager.

The first stage of labour finished at 2am (this info is from my maternity notes - to me it seemed like the first stage ended about 365 days after it started and the second lasted about 20 hours!) - I was taking a bit of strain at this stage - no pain relief taken - and did a bit of a Rada/Drama school audition around about now: "I can't do this..........please make it stop....etc,etc," but then I got my act together with Jane and Laura talking me through my contractions. Pushing the baby out took 20 minutes - I couldn't believe it was only 20 minutes, having lived every second of those 20 minutes in excruciating detail, but Michael finally appeared, born in the water, and I reached down and caught him - he was so tiny at 6lb 14oz, and unlike my first son, Conor, who looked like he had done 12 rounds in a boxing ring after being sucked out and messed about - he was a wonderful colour with no bruising or trauma. I am sure the pool provided him with the least traumatic journey available and may have something to do with the fact that he adores bath time!

It was so great being at home after the birth, able to have a cup of tea, (the futon had been made up as a bed in the conservatory and the midwives had the three of us snuggle down and have some family time while they saw to the tea and snacks and tidied up ) able to get into your own bed and best of all, not been left on your own in a dark ward full of strangers when Dads are sent home. The midwives operate a totally non-intervention approach to labour - they do not touch/examine you (they do stuff like check baby's heart beat with the sonic aid in the pool every 20 minutes) they must know from the way you are reacting where you are in your labour. So I had no stitches, /injections, internal examinations etc and the after checks were all very unobtrusive .

Conor was also totally undisturbed by it all - put to bed at his normal time of 6pm - he woke just before six the next day to find that his baby brother had come in the night. He has taken all this in his stride as if new babies are always popping up over night.

I have found the post natal care invaluable, as with the ante-natal, you are able to make appointments (and change them is necessary) at times that suit you and seeing a friendly face and having a chat in a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere does wonders in lifting the sprits of a tired and anxious mother. Those first few weeks are difficult; lack of sleep, natural concerns that baby is okay and feeling all at sea, everything is put into perspective after a visit from Jane and Laura.