A physiological water birth on my own terms

07/10/2025 Amy Watson

I was so excited to go into labour and I had dreamed about how I would go and what my birth story would be. As a midwife, I knew the importance of education, birth prep and also ensuring that my partner was also on the same page as me. I had dreamed of a physiological intervention free birth and as confident as I was, I wanted to ensure that my birth team was on the same page. That’s where Calmbirth came in and empowered us with the tools to feel ready to give it my best shot, but also mentally prepare for the unpredictability of birth too!

I woke up on a Thursday morning at 40+4 at around 6:30am with zero symptoms and had the best sleep I’ve had in a weeks. Having past my due date I was a little sad that my body had given me no symptoms of labour being near, and while I laid in bed I asked Sam to get me maccas breaky before he went to work. Around 1 hour later I noticed a small cramp, subtle and uncomfortable but nothing stronger than a regular period cramp. I ignored it. As Sam was about to leave for work, I had another one- not painful but noticeable so I mentioned I might have a bath to start the day before I went out for my walk.

And out of nowhere they came hard and strong, Sam made it less than 10 minutes down the road and I had called him and asked him to work from home because I knew something was happening. By the time he got back around 9am I was having 3-4:10 lasting 50 seconds and was breathing through. I was confused, where was my build up I’d heard so much about, it made me second guess myself and what I was in for but then Calmbirth was in my mind and I just tried to breathe through and focus on one at a time.

I put my tens on, put a Harry Potter movie on and breathed through. I never expected to go into labour in the middle of a sunny day so closed the blinds and just tried to focus on getting through each one. As soon as the contraction was gone I felt normal, was able to laugh, walk around and rest- the affirmation of doing anything for 60 seconds was so true!

I started stressing around lunchtime and was convinced I wasn’t in labour, my midwife brain was telling me it wasn’t long enough for active labour and I was convinced I was 2cm but after a discussion with my beautiful midwife, my student midwife Chelsea, a huge vomit and if I’m honestly a slight bit of pressure at the peak of a contraction I instinctively knew I wanted to go to hospital.

We arrived at the hospital around 3pm after a horrendous car ride on all fours with afternoon traffic. I planned on using staff parking but made Sam park at the main entrance, and after refusing a wheelchair from security (typical midwife) and everyone holding the lift open – I took the stairs stopping half way through and roaring through a contraction making a scene. We got into the room, clearly in transition telling anyone who would listen I wanted to go home and ‘don’t check me cause I’m not in labour and you’ll send me home’ I was on all 4s on the bed, had a massive show and my midwife offered the bath. I was hesitant because I was emotionally attached to the tens at this point but wanted to try.

As the bath was filling up, my student midwife Chels asked me if I was pushing at the peak of a contraction and I said no, even though I knew my body was shifting and I panicked – thinking I had a posterior baby and was pushing too early but my amazing birth team reassured me to just trust my body. We got into the bath and I started pushing, they didn’t coach me and I just went with my body pushing and resting between.

I pushed for just over an hour and half and then our beautiful Matilda made her way into the world up into my hands, we didn’t know the gender and Sam announced it as I pulled her onto my chest. A feeling I will never forget. I had done it,- no intervention at all- not even a vaginal examination! We moved to a bed, had the golden hour and first feed, minimal bleeding and no need for stitches. We stayed for about 6 hours and then went home to our own bed in a massive love bubble.

I cannot thank Amy enough for the support she has given us – from the Calmbirth course to supporting me as an LC through my breastfeeding journey. Tilly has been a dream to breastfeed and had no issues, but the reassurance and support even as a midwife is so important and has helped me feel on track as a first time mum!

No matter what experience you have, there is so much power in educating yourself and I will forever recommend Calmbirth to anyone no matter what way you want your birth to go!