Pregnant with my third child, I suspected that the birth would be quick but I was reassured by living close to the maternity hospital. But I didn't count on the unexpected arrival of my baby at my home 2 days before term.

It all started at 4pm at my eldest's swimming pool class with an incipient stomach ache. Later, back at home, I decided to relax in a hot bath. I warned my husband that I would have to get ready to go to the maternity ward and then two very painful contractions occurred. Then everything happened very quickly and naturally. I felt like my body knew what to do and I didn't feel stressed or scared at all.

I just have time to sit up, I lose the mucous plug and I have this natural urge to push.

One push later, the baby's head comes out. I call my husband, who is looking after our two older children at the bath. I admit he was in shock and felt lost and helpless when he saw our baby's head poking out. He brings me towels and goes back to our two older children.

It only takes one more push for me to grab the baby under the armpits and help him out. During my second delivery, the midwife suggested that I take my baby out by myself. I had this memory in my head. All I had to do was repeat the same gestures that were familiar and natural to me.

My baby cried and turned pink immediately, I removed the umbilical cord that was bothering him behind his neck. My only stress related to a problem that could have happened to my baby vanishes immediately. I then discover the sex of my baby with emotion and shout to my husband: "It's a boy".

My husband brings towels to keep the baby warm while he remains skin-to-skin with me.

The paramedics arrive and clamp the cord that my husband was able to cut.

My two older children will only see me leave in a stretcher with the firemen and their little brother in my arms. This is not at all the image we had prepared them for. I see them crying and distressed but I hardly realize it. I'm in my own bubble and euphoric about the experience (hormones probably helping...).

The story ends where it often begins, at the maternity ward where we arrive with our little Scott in our arms.

It was an extraordinary, crazy experience and one that I was not prepared for. But my body knew. It guided me and everything happened in a simple and spontaneous way.  

Emilie, mother of 3 children.

Photo credit: Melissa Jean