A Healing Home Birth: Welcome, Skyla

A Healing Home Birth: Welcome, Skyla

Baby Skyla entered the world on the last day of September 2025, a warm, sunny Tuesday that brought with it the rare gift of a daytime birth. It was the culmination of a journey for a wonderful couple, Sally and Ross, who had worked and waited with unwavering patience to have the healing home birth they so deeply desired.

As Sally approached 41 weeks, her body had been whispering signs but these changed to the promising signs of birth.

Cosy Christmas secants in the Snug.

The energy built slowly and gently over the weekend, and by Monday, her messages to me were filled with all the words a doula loves to hear—a clear signal that the time was drawing near. I put my own family action plans in place, my bag packed and ready by the door, sensing that when the call came, it would be for the final, active stage of her labour and maybe a rush to get to her.

On Tuesday, things continued to progress steadily. Sally had masterfully created a perfect birthing cocoon. She kept her room dark and quiet, walked sideways up the stairs, and spent time in the garden's early sunshine, all beautiful, instinctual ways to boost oxytocin. Supported by Ross, she had watched The Christmas Chronicles the evening before, remaining mostly in upright, forward-leaning positions that felt best for her body. We stayed connected through voice notes, and the excitement yet calm in her voice was telling me all I needed. I had suggested she might have an October baby to ease any pressure of waiting, but Sally won our little bet by a single day!

Hypnobirthing affirmations made by Daddy & Big sis! Plus a early labour & birth plan.

At 1:00 PM, Ross called. He said things were changing, but Sally was breathing through her surges beautifully. After a brief call with the Eden midwifery team and the triage, who suggested it wasn't yet time to set up the pool, we spoke again at 1:36 PM. By this point, my intuition was speaking loudly. In the background, I could hear Sally's breathing had deepened into more primal, guttural sounds, and she was feeling intense new sensations. I suggested I should probably make my way over, just to help them settle in. Ross could then focus on the pool, and if birth was still a long way off, I could always leave again.

I arrived shortly after 2:00 PM, greeted by warm air and brilliant sunshine. Inside, I found Sally in the bathroom, swaying on a mat, completely in her zone. Her waters had just released, and her vocalisations confirmed what I already suspected: this baby was coming soon. I looked at Ross and said, "We need the midwives, and we need the pool, now."

What followed was a flurry of focused activity. Ross and I moved between setting up the pool and supporting Sally, who descended the stairs for me in record time. With the midwives still on their way, their advice was to call an ambulance if active pushing began. A quick glance confirmed my suspicion that a tiny patch of dark hair was visible.

Powerful waves washing over Sally while she stayed in her zone.

We made the call, though it proved stressful for Ross as he was asked the same questions repeatedly and told to get Sally out of the pool, where the water was a perfect 37.8∘C.

The birth pool bliss

But inside their snug, there was only peace. The room was dark, warm, and filled with the comforting scent of Christmas candles. Snacks were laid out, and gentle music played. Amidst the external rush, Sally remained the calm centre. Supported by Ross and me, she breathed, relaxed between surges, and slowed her body down, a testament to her incredible focus. She was doing it. The only thing she wanted was me and Ross by her side. This was the calm, powerful birth we had all been manifesting for her. 

Just as Skyla's head began to crown, paramedic Josh and midwives Shereena and Hayley arrived simultaneously.

Ross explaining the pool is safe to 999 while Sally breathed and worked with her body & baby.

A steady stream of blood in the water indicated Sally had torn, and I was deeply relieved to have the midwives’ expertise at our side. They put down their kit, ready to support as needed. It is not typically a doula's role to catch a baby, but Sally’s birth plan was clear: she wanted me to be the one to lift her daughter calmly and slowly from the water and place her in her arms only when she was ready.

And that is exactly what happened. At 3:04 PM, Skyla’s head was born. She had a nuchal cord a "cord scarf" which Shereena skillfully helped me to resolve in the water. With the next surge, I gently guided baby Skyla up and held her next to Sally, once able to lift her through her mother's legs and onto her chest. In that sacred moment, Sally connected, breathing in the sight of her beautiful daughter, a look of pure awe on her face. She had birthed her baby with nothing but her own strength, her breath, and the warm embrace of the water and her birth team.

First cuddles and a magic moment to just be.

The moments that followed were a blend of bliss and urgency. Sally’s bleeding was heavy, and given her history, the midwives advised an injection to help her uterus contract and for the cord to be cut. This allowed Ross a precious, early opportunity for skin-to-skin while I helped him get settled with his newborn daughter.

First moments in skin to skin with Daddy.

While Sally’s blood loss was significant, she remained stable. She received a few stitches, and soon Skyla was back in her arms, breastfeeding immediately alert, awake, and rooting like a champion. In a moment of surreal normalcy, a Tesco delivery arrived, and Josh, the wonderful paramedic, kindly brought the shopping in and put it away.

Breasting while mama gets her tea & extra buttery toast ( also manifested & in Sally's birth plan)

Then after things settled a little I was able to make tea and buttery sour dough toast.

The midwife and Ross set to packing the pool away and we got the space back while Sally watched on enjoying her new baby cuddles and toast.

Teamwork pool packers.

The pure love connection and WE DID MOMENTS I am blessed to capture.

After some time, however, it became clear the bleeding was continuing, and Sally’s observations began to dip. The decision was made to transfer to the hospital.

The room filled with people, but Sally managed the unexpected turn with the same incredible grace she had shown all day. It wasn't what any of us wanted, but it didn't take away from the perfection of her home birth. The need for medical support would have been the same in any setting.

At Leighton Hospital, the clots were removed, and the bleeding slowed. The next day, they were home. Sally sustained a 1.4-litre blood loss but is recovering well, supported by iron supplements and the loving care of Ross. She is breastfeeding beautifully, and a very proud big sister is enjoying all the cuddles she can get.

What an honour to witness the magic of this incredible birth and to be this family's doula. They faced every challenge with strength, trust, and teamwork. They did it.

Thanks to the Midwife for getting this pic of us all together.

Leaving this family of 4 happy, peaceful and full of Love! Thank you for sharing and booking with me. Love & Glitter , Mama Kat xoxoxo