Bronwen's Positive Home Birth Story

Long Early Labour - 41 Weeks Pregnant and Refusing Induction

For about three weeks, Liesl kept teasing us with contractions that always faded. It was confusing, draining, and nothing like my labour with Odette (my first baby). Julia (our amazing doula) and the midwives reassured me it was normal, but it felt like waiting in limbo. By the time I had gone more than 1 week over my due date, I was starting to get a lot of pressure from the maternity team regarding induction. I was desperate to have a home birth and I didn’t see any reason why I needed to birth my baby before they were ready. My midwife told me that I could go to 42 weeks and still have a home birth, but if I wanted to go to the birth centre, it was hospital policy not to admit anyone who was over 41 + 5 days. I really did not want a hospital birth on the labour ward and it was my worst nightmare if I had to go on a hormone drip. I kept trying to stay positive, but this was all at the back of my mind. If I couldn’t have a home birth, the birth centre was my 2^nd choice and I felt like this was all starting to slip away from me.

Staying Positive Beyond My Due Date

I was booked to see the consultant at 41+6 days, for them to discuss induction with me again and if I still refused, I was advised to have daily monitoring at the hospital after 42 weeks. I was not worried about baby at all, as I could still feel her moving regularly and she was keeping me up at night with hiccups. I was just feeling really anxious about not getting the home birth that I wanted and the constant pressure from the maternity team to get induced.

I messaged Julia regularly and she reminded me to stay positive and that baby will come when baby is ready. It made me feel much stronger and to trust my instincts and stick to the plan.

41 weeks + 4 days: Is This Labour?

On the 3rd November 2025, I was 41+ 4 days pregnant. I contacted Julia to let her know that I had woken up feeling “a bit off” and like I feel just before I would come on my period. I suspected it was probably nothing, but just thought I’d let her know anyway.

I decided to take Odette out for a coffee date and whilst I was out, I felt cramps, pressure, and I lost more of my mucus plug. I first lost some mucus plug at 41 weeks exactly, but it kept coming away every so often. Today was different though, because when I went to the toilet in the coffee shop, I thought my waters had gone.

I decided to head straight home to get some rest and I dropped Odette off at her Grandparents on the way.

Once I was home, I called my midwife to let her know what was happening and the team came out to check me over. They said I was still 2cm dilated, but my cervix had thinned out. The midwife confirmed that my waters hadn’t gone, but they were bulging.

However, by that evening everything had stalled again. The midwife did say that the head was very low though and for some reason things kept stalling. Later we realised it was just Liesl turning into the right position.

Stop-Start Labour at 41 weeks + 5 days

At around 4am on the 4th November 2025, I messaged Julia. The contractions had started again and they had really started to increase in intensity. I was getting them about every 2-3 minutes, lasting for around a minute and the pain was 7-8/10. I couldn’t talk through them and I knew that this was a good sign that things were progressing. Julia asked if I wanted her to come over, but I just didn’t know what to do. I was keen for labour not to stall again and decided to give it half an hour to see what happened.

Lo and behold,  contractions stopped and labour had stalled again. It was so weird, the contractions were so intense and then just suddenly stopped. I decided to try and get some sleep whilst I could.

7am and my back was feeling really painful, no contractions though. I didn’t sleep much, due to the pain. I just didn’t know what to do at this point. I was so tempted to just go into hospital and get them to break my waters. The back pain was there constantly, unlike when I was getting contractions and I would get a break from the pain. I spoke to Julia and she suggested I could have a bath to see if this helped ease the pain and to try some biomechanics techniques. I was feeling so deflated. This labour was so different to when I had Odette and I just didn’t understand why it kept starting and stopping. I knew I was definitely in labour, but suspected it was still early labour. Every time I moved I kept losing a bit more of my mucus plug and I was starting to feel nauseous now too.

In the back of my mind I kept worrying about what the midwives had told me when they came out. They’d said that being so close to 42 weeks and having stop start labour like I was having, can be dangerous for the baby if it continues. They kept telling me how amazing the labour ward was. I was not convinced though! I really wanted a home birth and I doubted that the labour ward would be nicer than my own home environment.

I decided to take Julia’s advice and have a bath. The bath really helped with the back pain and when I got out, I did the side lying release technique with Sam.

By 8am, I was feeling much more positive and happier about staying at home. The contractions still hadn’t returned, but I was feeling some period type cramps. I decided to take the dogs for a gentle walk, to see if I could get the contractions to start up properly.

This Was Finally It: Active Labour with Strong Contractions and No More Stalling

At 9:30am everything did start again. Intense contractions, which were strong and long. I knew this was finally it this time. We called Julia to come over and Sam started to fill the pool. I used the TENS until I could get into the pool, and once I was in the water I dropped straight into my labour zone.

Julia arrived and guided me through every wave. No stalling this time — my body knew exactly what to do. The midwives came. I used spiky balls, a comb, and gas & air as things ramped up. I was checked: 8cm with bulging waters. They broke them in the pool and Liesl moved down instantly. A few powerful pushes later, at 12:41pm, she was here.

No tears. No trauma. Just the most grounding, positive birth.

I felt so supported by Julia and our midwives. Birthing my baby at home was incredible — empowering and something I’ll carry with me forever.

Grateful For Doula Support

I’m so grateful to Julia for keeping me on my birth plan and being so positive. If it wasn’t for her, I would have been lost in the maternity system again and birthed in hospital. I would have ended up agreeing to an induction (which I really didn’t want) and I would have been kept in overnight on the postnatal ward, which I also did not want.

Thanks to Julia, Liesl arrived at home, safe and sound. Exactly what I had wanted.

Doula's Support All Births

If you are considering a home birth like Bronwen or you are just wanting a positive birth experience, get in touch with me and see how I can support you. I support all kinds of births, whether you are wanting a home birth, hospital birth or wanting to birth in a birth centre. With the support of a doula, you are more likely to have a positive birth experience and less likely to receive interventions such as induction, a caesarean section or an instrumental birth.

www.babadoulaservices.co.uk

Julia x