Diary of Pregnancy #7 – My Homebirthing Journey

As I write this post to document my homebirthing journey, I want to first give glory and praise and thanksgiving to God who saw us through our very first homebirth. I want to acknowledge his hand upon all of us. The birth process as He designed it is indeed wonderful!

The moment one hears that I had birthed at home, many immediately assumed that I didn’t make it on time to the hospital. But that is not exactly true. There was a point during my labour where I decided that I was too comfortable labouring at home and did not want to leave the room.

Actually, I could have made it in time if I had left immediately after my waterbag broke. But my 1st thought was,”what’s the point?” And I just didn’t feel like rushing at all. So I guess, at that point, it became a planned homebirth

But…..

It wasn’t made at the spur of the moment either. I had done a lot of researching and reading before the birth.

As I reflect on my homebirth journey, I cannot help but be in awe of the Hand of God upon all of us from the very beginning. I had never planned for a homebirth. All along, I had planned to go to the hospital.

However, as more and more people knew about the pregnancy, there were a handful of people who asked if I was planning a homebirth this time since the 6th labour and birth was so quick. Even our older children started to ask us to birth at home!

I started to think, “hmm…perhaps I should prepare for one in case I birth even faster this time round.” So I started to read up (articles as well as natural birthing forums) and view homebirth videos and asked questions of those who had birthed at home in Singapore, UK and the US.

And that’s how it all began.

As I started researching and asking questions, I even posted Why Must It Be So New Age-y on this blog, questioning why natural birth has been claimed by pagans when it was a God-designed affair.

I also reflected on my last two, most natural, non-internventionist births. I knew I could trust my body to work as God had designed it and I know that if this was not of God, I would not do it. And that was my prayer. God knew the desire of my heart but I wasn’t about to do something just coz I liked to!

And so, I started preparing for my hospital birth but bore in mind that I could very well have a homebirth since the last 2 births went rather fast once active labour was established.

So as I packed my hospital bag, I also prepared a homebirth “kit” of sorts. (You could google for a list of things midwives usually have on hand when attending homebirths.) I had only the very basic stuff since I was still planning to go to the hospital – a small mattress, waterproof sheets, hydrogen peroxide, a basin for the placenta, blankets, kitchen towels, etc…

I also psychologically prepared dh by forwarding him bits and pieces of articles and websites on homebirthing I just warned him to be prepared in case we don’t make it to the hospital.

I was totally prepared to birth at home if I had to. I had done my research and knew that it is a safe option for me. And I was always ready to go to the hospital if the Holy Spirit had prompted me to.

So no, I didn’t not make it to the hospital on time and no, it wasn’t a decision made hastily either.

From all I have read and the fact that I trust Abba Father’s design, I truly believe a healthy, normal pregnancy can happen very safely at home. It is not something to be feared or avoided.

And I am certainly glad to be given the chance to experience this beautiful birth at home together with dh and even the children. The children are so pleased that they got to see the baby immediately after the birth and I know dh is pleased to be the first person to see and hold our baby instead of just being the bystander

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Articles for Christian SAHMs can be found at Building Up Moms.