‘Yes! I got this! This is my time for a home birth’ I thought, when carried baby nr 3.

Most likely my last baby and my dream to have a homebirth hadn’t happened yet. This pregnancy was a little different to the other 2. After 6 weeks and around 20 weeks I had a little bit of blood spotting, which was something I needed to work on emotionally. Also that time my fears and anxiety from money problems growing up rose up and worked through that as well during the pregnancy. This time round I only went for the big scans. Until the last trimester when I went to see an obgyn to deliver the baby in the hospital. A new hospital with lots of baths, plenty, so I wouldn’t have to go without one. Hmmm you think, you’re talking about homebirth and then hospitals… Yes, this was the dilemma all the way through while still living in Dubai being pregnant. It was pick up time for the kids at 2 pm. Sat down with my mom in the car and thought ‘that feels different’. And that little tickle started again. Every 15 minutes, until around 6 pm. My friend called and I was only certain then that something was gonna happen. My husband arrived around 6.30pm. After dinner I decided to do my hair. After all, I've been hairstyling my whole life. The surges started to pick up a bit. At 7.40 I asked for the bath to be filled to relax. My kids have been swaying with me from side to side. Breathing through surges. As I entered the bath, immediately the surges picked up. I knew this was gonna be fast again… I had surges one after another and I was breathing through them. Whilst saying ‘slow, slow, slow’.... As I wanted to feel, experience and enjoy every moment! The next minute she was there. I held her to my chest and then looked at her. Holding her head in my hands, her body on top of my lower arms. Her chest slowly going up and down, transitioning her body from fluid to oxygen. To all of our surprise she fell asleep straight away. No crying, or fussing, just peacefully arriving and dozing off. Just clearing her mouth and nose from the water. What a beautiful way to come “earthside”. And what an experience!