Annmarie Burnell's birth story

My main concern was that the bedroom was so messy, so while I was on all fours, Stephen was desperately throwing all our clothes to one side of the room. Then I was obsessed that I wouldn't get the tens machine on in time. We phoned the midwife, and she said not to worry about the tens machine and to have a bath instead.

My mum arrived while I was getting into the bath. When the midwife arrived at 10pm I was ready to push. Things went very quickly from that point. The midwife examined me and I was fully dilated. She contacted another midwife who had asked if she could come too. She'd only done five home births in 15 years, and wanted to be a part of mine, which I thought was lovely. So in all I had two midwives, my mum and Stephen with me. I used gas and air and was on my knees. In between contractions I rested against the bed.

'It's a bloody boy!'
The strangest thing was how calm I felt in between contractions. I could have gone to sleep. Everyone seemed to know their place. My mum massaged my back and Stephen had the trusty cold flannel. I was holding his hand so he went through every contraction with me (he says I nearly broke his fingers - revenge is sweet - ha! ha!) the midwives let me do my own thing and occasionally gave me words of advice with the pushing.

At 11.25pm Liam Thomas came into the world. My mum helped the midwife lift him onto the bed. Apparently I saw him and said, 'It's a bloody boy'. I'd been really good up until then and not sworn once.

It was everything I'd hoped for
He was tiny and so perfect I couldn't believe three hours earlier he'd been curled up inside me. Stephen said it was the closest he's got to witnessing a miracle and, if you believe in the big man, it's the nearest you get to God.

I was fortunate enough to have a two-and-a-half-hour labour and, who knows, the fact that I was at home and had my mum and partner with me (which made me feel at ease) may have contributed to that.

My home birth was everything I had hoped for. And I believe if you're fit and healthy and have had a trouble-free pregnancy, and if you're confident about giving birth, then there is no reason why you can't be at home - be it your first, second, third or tenth child.

I will definitely go for a home birth next time.