Amy and Georgia
Special thanks to Amy Jackson for allowing us to repost with permission, her and Georgias positive home-birth stories. You can follow Amy @amzjackson on instagram. Original blog post: https://amzjackson.com/blog/motherhood-the-homebirth-edit-ft-georgia-roses
I first met Georgia online, after exchanging messages and story reactions via peanut and Instagram. She'd just had a newborn baby, and at the time I was in early pregnancy. Both in need of 'mum friends' and being newbies to pregnancy and motherhood, we bonded quickly, and I was lucky enough to find a friend who helped, guided and reassured me through the many stages of pregnancy and beyond. Fast forward two years, we still call on each other for respite, party together on our 'nights off' and picnic with our babies. Georgia's laid back, calming approach to life and parenting was just what I needed as a first-time mum. So it comes as no surprise that when she encouraged me to have a home-birth, I didn't hesitate to give it more thought.
A LITTLE ABOUT MY HOME-BIRTH
I changed my mind from hospital birth to a home-birth at the last minute, already five days overdue with Zola (very on-brand for me). Until this point, I had brushed off suggestions on having a home birth from my midwife, believing that I would only feel secure giving birth in a hospital. It wasn't ever a straight-up no to home birth, but it seemed very far removed from who I was at the time, an anxiety-ridden university student. I'd only ever seen or heard of people giving birth in hospitals. If they were giving birth elsewhere, then it was like, the baby accidentally slipped out before they made it to the ward - a crazy story shared with everyone who'll listen, from that moment on. Despite all of this, I still found myself turning to my boyfriend one day, saying, "shall we just have a home-birth, then?".
I'm unsure of what exactly made me change my mind, but clearly, hearing about Georgia's positive home-birth story and urges over the months seemed to have taken some effect. It could have been the fact that I was the size of a house, 5 days overdue, and physically couldn't be bothered to go to a hospital. Whatever it was, my mind was decided. I called the midwives from the Leeds Home-birth team, got a quick consultation (deeming me home-birth safe), and began the process. I managed to source a pool via Georgia. I then spent a day gathering all the equipment needed (extra towels, thermometers, a bucket, etc. - mostly from Wilko) and set myself up at home with my family's help. As Zola was due any second, we all worked efficiently.
I had already been practicing Hypnobirthing (highly recommend) and had no initial intention of having an epidural or taking prescribed drugs during labour, which nicely aligned with my new plan to have a home-birth. The ease of getting the equipment needed, guided by a list provided by my local home-birth team, came as a shock to me. The hardest thing to locate would have been the birthing pool (without Georgia's help), and I know that buying new can be expensive. However, there are alternative ways to source birthing pools that don't cost an arm and a leg, including renting or loaning. Local home-birth teams and groups online provide resources to help with any queries in finding a birthing pool, for those unsure of where to begin or worried about the financial aspect.
Once my contractions started, I floated between my bed and rolling around on my birth ball. I felt so content in knowing that I didn't have to go to the hospital and that everything I needed was right downstairs. My go-to labour snack were those pure fruit juice ice lolly's (I had about 4), which my partner would fetch from the freezer when required. When I finally graduated from bed/birth ball to the pool, I instantly felt relaxed. The warm water and the ambiance that we created (warm lighting, soothing music, plants, etc.) allowed me to connect with my body and surroundings extraordinarily. I felt in control, and reassured with the midwives in the room, sat at my dining table monitoring and observing. My mother and my partner were like my tribe, assisting me and spritzing my face with water mist when gestured to (I became very non-verbal once the pain hit). I felt incredibly safe and, well, at home. When Zola arrived after hours labouring in the pool, It felt amazing to sit on my own sofa and eat a digestive, knowing that I had everything set up for her upstairs.
MY ADVICE FOR THOSE WANTING A HOME-BIRTH:
Follow your instincts. If you are certain that a Home-birth is what you want, try not to dwell on negative opinions and focus on the positive. Protect your energy by staying informed while also consuming positive information and stories. practice Hypnobirthing. Trust in your bodies abilities to do one of the most natural (albeit miraculous) processes. Watch youtube videos. Remember that you can always change your mind and never feel bad/guilty if your birth plan doesn’t go to plan. plans do tend to do that, and childbirth is particularly unpredictable.
IN CONVERSATION WITH: GEORGIA ROSES
Georgia is a Leeds native, previously based in London. She spent time travelling the globe with her husband, Palms, before moving back to Leeds. Here, they settled and she had their first child Forest, in 2018. Georgia gave birth to their second child Wolfgang in 2020. I sat down with her over iced coffee on an Monday afternoon, to discuss both of her home-birth experiences.
“When I found out that I was pregnant with my first child, I immediately started toying back and forth with the idea of having a home-birth. A friend of mine told me about Hypnobirthing, which definitely influenced my decision. I found that the more I looked into Hypnobirthing and home-births, the more excited I became. When I initially mentioned it to my mum, naturally, she thought I were crazy. But my lovely midwife and friend reassured us and made me feel a lot more comfortable with my decision to have a home-birth. I read insightful books which helped grow my confidence and soothe anxieties. I’ve never really liked hospitals, I don’t think anyone does, I’ve been lucky enough to have never suffered from serious illnesses - and so spending time in a hospital is a rarity for me. I loved the idea of bringing my baby into the world in a space that felt familiar to me. I felt like being at home would put me in as much control as I could be when giving birth, given it’s unpredictability. I had a really good home-birth and felt empowered the whole time. The second time around I didn’t practice Hypnobirthing, as the birth was a lot quicker than expected and he came earlier than his due date. I noticed the difference between births because of this, so would strongly recommend practicing Hypnobirthing whether you choose a home-birth or not. I still had a positive birth and I’m glad that I did it at home again, I loved that I didn’t really have to move and that everyone came to me. I only went to the hospital for scans”
What was the best and worst part of your home-birth experience?
“The best part for me was just being in a safe space and being in my own surroundings. Not having to go anywhere once the contractions hit and just moving from one room to the other. My husband helping out a lot was another highlight, he was able to do way more than I am assuming he would get to do in a hospital. The midwives left us to it and we were allowed to do so much by ourselves. I guess the worst part would be the clean up, but I mean, we (the birthers) don't really have to do that anyway. The second time round was a bit more difficult having a toddler, so if you already have children it might be a bit hard. I know at hospitals you’re sometimes able to get a break from them and rest after birth, but at home you don’t really get that opportunity if they’re around”
How did having a home-birth influence your early days of motherhood?
“Having a home-birth took the stress out of bag packing and planning to be at the hospital. I can imagine I’d have anxiety about coming home, after being in the hospital too. Don’t get me wrong, I was still nervous about spending the first night with a newborn, but not having a change of setting definitely helped me feel more grounded and relaxed. I think my home-birth really made the early days a lot calmer and peaceful for me”
GEORGIA’S ADVICE FOR THOSE WANTING A HOME-BIRTH:
“I would suggest just going for it. Having a baby is always special no matter how you bring them into the world, if you don’t have any health risks and you are safe, it’s worth it - It’s a lovely experience. Always ask and probe when you have questions. I refused to be induced [with Forest] despite being pushed, and my home-birth went so well. Thankfully, she was the perfect weight and healthy. Always trust your instincts”
RACIAL DISPARITIES IN CHILDBIRTH AND HOW TO TAKE ACTION
Both Georgia and I had remarkably positive experiences, and are grateful to the wonderful midwives at Leeds Home-birth team. They provided support, care, and reassurance to us both during our pregnancies and births. We felt listened to and respected during the whole process, and remain grateful for this.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for all black birthing people across the country. We have watched the dialogue surrounding black maternal mortality rates gain more momentum over the past year, due to awareness campaigns such as Fivexmore. The dismissal of concerns and lack of attentive care is a running theme heard through first-hand stories from our families, friends, and online accounts. Establishing a 'safe-space' is something that Black birthing people are increasingly concerned about, and our advocacy for Home-birth does not exclude this. For us, being at home helped settle our birth anxieties, so we encourage it (especially to black birthing people) based on our experience. However, we are aware that this may not be the desired route, possible, and/or attainable for everyone. We are advocates for a healthy and safe childbirth first and foremost. Here is a small list of steps to take immediate action regarding the disparity:
Continue to Sign the Fivexmore petition
Donate to the campaign
Write to your local MP with this Template
Continue to provide support to black birthing people through words and actions
please read the stories on Fivexmore’s website and Instagram in order to gain more information on this topic.
