I LIT CANDLES AND FILLED THE BIRTHING POOL, THEN I SAW THE BABY WAS COMING

Matt Hirst, 33, works for a joinery business. He lives in Holmfirth, West Yorks, with wife Jennie, 32, who is in marketing, and daughters ava, two, and Mia, eight weeks. Matt says: TWo years ago, I was at our eldest daughter Ava’s hospital birth. It was quite traumatic because it was a two-and-a-halfday labour and Jennie needed an episiotomy (incision). In comparison, Mia’s birth was quick and weirdly peaceful.

The day after her due date we sent Ava to her grandparents. We’d planned a home birth with midwives present and hired a birthing pool. Jen arranged a virtual hypnobirthing refresher session so we were feeling pretty confident and relaxed about it.

At 1am on January 22, Jennie woke with strong contractions. This was it. I ran her a bath, lit candles and went to blow up the pool.

Jennie’s contraction track era pp told us to ring the midwife.

They said they were 40 minutes away and we thought we had loads of time. But while I was about to fill up the pool, Jennie had an overwhelming contraction.

I could see her belly moving down. This baby was on its way out and there was no stopping it.

I rang the midwife back who told us to either get Jennie out of the bath or make sure the baby was born completely under water. It couldn’t be half in and half out because the baby could drown.

There was no way Jennie was getting out of the bath. The midwife asked me to look for the head and suddenly it was there. one more push from Jennie and I could see the baby’s shoulders emerge. Jennie shouted: ‘Pull her out!’ I held the baby, then passed her to Jennie. Thankfully she started crying straight away. It was an incredible moment. Before we knew it, the house was full with paramedics and midwives checking them both over. Mia was a healthy 8 lb and I cut the cord. The midwife asked what time the baby was born — neither of us had a clue. Then we heard the other midwife on the speaker phone shout: 2:52am! She must have heard the baby cry down the line and made a note of the time. By 5am, Jennie and I were in bed having champagne and chocolates and looking at each other as if to say: ‘Did that really happen?’ Mates have said they’d be too squeamish to deliver a baby, but you just do what you’ve got to do. It was an unforgettable experience. JENNIE SAYS: Matt stayed calm throughout, because there was no time to panic. He was so supportive, keeping me focused on my breathing. People have said he is a hero; I want to add it was me who gave birth, in a bath with no pain relief! The pandemic had changed the experience of this pregnancy for both of us due to all the restrictions. Matt had only been allowed in the hospital for 30 seconds at each scan and I was adamant I didn’t want to give birth in hospital just in case he wasn’t allowed to be with me. The fact we went through this together in our own bathroom was incredibly intense, but so special and an amazing story for us to share when people can finally come and cuddle Mia.

‘She was on her way — there was no stopping her’