Night time home birth in Leicester

Night time home birth in Leicester

I was going to bed when I got the call, my bag was packed and I was there in 15 minutes. The midwives were there too, which was lucky as we realised that there was only one team of midwives out that night for Leicester and they ended up helping another couple deliver their baby at home on the phone! The birthing pool was ready.

Annie’s labour went quite fast, it was her third baby so it’s usually faster- but there are no rules. Of course when you’re having contractions it feels like along time. It was the  middle of the night and the midwives wanted as little light as possible to activate the labour hormones so I had to stop shooting for a while but quickly switched a light on when the baby was on her way. Yes the baby is their third girl, the two sisters were very happy about that.

Baby came out so fast that the cord broke, I’d never seen this and the midwives either though they knew about it. The risk is that there is such a lot of blood, they need to get the baby checked in case she’d lost blood too, but she was fine, only cord blood. It was quite impressive. The little girl woke up just after birth, came down all full of sleep and saw the red pool, she asked what it was and dad, without hesitation replied: ribena. I was very impressed by his quick thinking and she didn’t question it.

The baby opened her eyes very fast and even had a little smile, it’s fascinating how fast they change in the first hours. Mum sent me some photos a few days later and she already looked more grown up!

To see another night time home birth in Leicester, click here

Unscheduled births are impossible to plan but I offer birth photography at home and in hospital in Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Melton and areas within an hour of Loughborough. If you’re interested, please contact me