Stacey's Home, Water, Hypnobirth

"The Right Birth on the Day: Stacey’s Story of Calm, Confidence, and Comedy"

Friday night. Stacey’s due date. Just as I settle in for the evening, my phone pings—a WhatsApp message: Stacey’s waters have gone! Despite the excitement, there are no surges yet. Stacey and Ricky, her lively partner, remain calm and grounded, taking it all in stride. We agree to get some rest, and I set my phone on high alert, expecting a call at an ungodly hour. But to my delight, I get a solid seven hours of uninterrupted sleep—a rare treat in the life of a doula!

The Morning Calm

At 6:30 a.m., Ricky calls, his excitement palpable. “Surges have started!” Stacey is handling everything beautifully, though she’s a bit surprised at their gentleness. “I thought they’d be stronger,” she says. I remind her of the power of expectations—what we anticipate often shapes our experience. By staying calm and focused, Stacey is already setting the perfect tone for her birth journey.

After a quick shower and grabbing my doula bag, I hit the road for Southend, an hour away. Just as I’m nearing their home, Ricky calls to ask, “Want a McDonald’s breakfast?” “Absolutely!” I reply. When I arrive, Stacey is serenely bouncing on her birthing ball, muffin in hand. Her two daughters, Sophie (15) and Polly (5), are snuggled on the sofa with Ricky. Stacey radiates calm confidence—a powerful example of how the right environment can nurture labour.

The Importance of Environment

Stacey’s home is warm, relaxed, and filled with love—a haven perfectly suited for the birth journey. A calm and familiar setting can make all the difference in labour, as it encourages the release of oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which drives surges and keeps labour progressing. Distractions or stress can interfere, which is why protecting this atmosphere is so important.

The midwife, Danielle, arrives soon after. She’s lovely and warm but bound by hospital protocols. “The doctor advises you to come to the hospital since your waters broke 13 hours ago, just to minimise the risk of infection,” she says. Stacey, calm and composed, politely declines. “Thanks, but I’m staying right here,” she says firmly. Danielle smiles knowingly—Stacey is in control, and it’s empowering to see her make decisions that align with her instincts.

Interestingly, as soon as Danielle arrives, Stacey’s labour slows. When she leaves, it starts up again. This demonstrates how our surroundings impact labour hormones. Oxytocin thrives in calm, private environments, while adrenaline—the stress hormone—can stall progress when we feel observed or pressured. Stacey’s home, filled with joy and familiarity, was the perfect setting for her body to do its work.

The Power of Distraction

Polly’s energy is infectious, so Sophie suggests we watch Grease. “Brilliant idea!” I say, knowing a feel-good movie can lift spirits and encourage oxytocin to flow. Sure enough, Stacey’s surges pick up as she relaxes into the music. Joy and laughter are powerful tools during labour, and it’s clear they’re working their magic here.

Around lunchtime, I suggest a walk to the shops to keep things moving. Stacey and I grab meal deals while thinking Ricky and Polly are tucking into cottage pie. We return to find them cosied up on the sofa watching a kids’ show about mermaids. Ricky is a bit miffed he missed out on lunch, and Stacey gives him a sympathetic look. Labour is a delicate dance of emotions, and even small frustrations can influence its pace. When Stacey’s surges slow again, I suggest she take a quiet moment upstairs to listen to a Wise Hippo track on her phone. This reset helps her reconnect with her body and baby, refocusing her energy.

Into Active Labour

Back in the living room, Mamma Mia! is playing, and Polly is entertaining us with dance routines, even pulling off a full split! Laughter fills the room, and Stacey returns from her reset with her eyes closed, breathing deeply through stronger surges. Suddenly, she dashes to the bathroom to be sick (actually a positive sign of progress) and feels a “pop” as her waters break again. Things are getting serious now!

I nudge Ricky to start filling the birth pool with hot water. Stacey’s surges come fast, and she sinks into her inner world, handling each wave with the calm and focus of a hypnobirthing queen. Once the pool is ready, she eases in, visibly relaxing as the warm water surrounds her. Water immersion can be transformative during labour, reducing intensity and providing a sense of weightlessness. Even the family pets—Dollsie, Jay Jay, and Kenzo—pop in to check on her. It’s truly a family affair! Just then, Stacey makes a deep, primal sound—a noise I’ve heard many times before and a clear sign that things are moving quickly.

The Moment of Arrival

I call the midwife again, who says she’s now 15 minutes away. I grab a mirror to check progress—baby is close! Sophie looks a bit panicked and starts to cry, so I put my arm around her and reassure her that everything is perfectly normal and just as it should be. Ricky stays by Stacey’s side, grounding her with his presence. We’re all in sync, riding the waves of each surge together. The midwife arrives just in time, swooping in with three minutes to spare. I hand her the mirror, and we exchange a knowing look that says, “We’ve got this.” Later, I discover that she hadn’t attended a home birth in quite some time—what a privilege this was for her!

With quiet determination, Stacey breathes her baby into the world, passing her through her legs and welcoming her with open arms. There’s a slight moment of confusion—Stacey thought the midwife had said “boy,” but upon closer inspection, it’s a beautiful baby girl! Covered in vernix, the perfect natural moisturiser, she is calm and alert, taking in her new surroundings.

A Day to Remember

After the cord stops pulsating in the pool, Ricky cuts it, his awe palpable. Stacey moves to the sofa to birth the placenta, which arrives with ease. I encourage Ricky to take off his shirt to enjoy some skin-to-skin time with his daughter, while Polly, ever the entertainer, keeps us all smiling.

Once the midwife completes her checks, we settle Stacey and baby on the couch. Ricky reappears with a bottle of champagne he’s been saving for four years, and we toast to a birth that unfolded exactly as they wanted—calm, joyful, and family-centered. And what better way to end the day than with a Domino’s pizza feast?

Reflecting on Stacey’s birth, it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of environment, choice, and the support of a trusted team. A doula’s role is to hold space, protect the birthing atmosphere, and empower parents to trust their instincts. Birth doesn’t have to be complicated—it can be simple, beautiful, and exactly what it’s meant to be when we follow the body’s natural rhythm.

Welcome to the world, Mylee, weighing in at a whopping 10lbs! A perfect reminder that the right birth on the right day is always worth celebrating.

With warmth and wisdom

Doula Tamara x