In the pool

Yes if I haven't previously stated we were having a home birth in the pool. It took me a little while to connect up the calliphont (a device that heats the water) and the water was only trickling in at best with a leak in the hose connections. The midwife arrived together with her assistance and they got to preparing the equipment and did their routine checks on Kiri and for the babies' heartbeat. Kiri was still having her contractions every 5-6 minutes, but she was calm and everyone waited patiently as the pool filled with water. Our midwife was pleased that Kiri was already 9 cm dilated by this time.

Around 9 . 30 a.m. Kiri jumped in the pool which was at a perfect temperature of 36 degrees. She was ready as she ever was gonna be, and her mother and 3 sisters were all present together with myself and the two midwives. This was it, she was about to push out our son and perform a miracle.

Kiri got onto her knees and leaned on the end of the pool. When her contractions came she began to push and of course she was in much pain. I sat around the back of her and Kiris' mother sat in front of her holding her hands comforting her. Our midwife sat directly behind her (we were all outside of the pool) giving instructions and and advice. Her contractions were coming every 5 minutes or so, so she had time to recuperate and have a drink between each painful session of pushing.