People: We have a new child and I is very happy. Another lovely natural home birth, made to look easy (again) with the valiant effort of my lovely lady, with baby born into my hands.
There is no feeling like those first few seconds of emergence of a baby underwater in the hands. But perhaps nothing like the feeling of pushing them out - 4 conscious, pain-relief free deliveries by the inestimable wonderous woman in my life. 3 at home, one in hospital, all in pools.
Our new girl is so welcome in our family and her siblings are enjoying getting involved wherever possible.
If you ever have a child, fathers, say to the midwives you want to welcome the child, as it should be you - you helped put it in there! help get it out... :D They have to use plastic gloves - let your child feel your hands first if you can.
It's a treasure to not have to take a newborn outside in wintertime in their early days, as in times gone by, to not move a mother or baby if possible in the runup and aftermath of birth.
It has been lovely to be able to do that for our last two. One gets to gently recover, the other to gently arrive, surrounded by nearest and dearest only - no traffic, no forced separation in a car seat, no loud noises, no bright lights.
There are so many benefits to mother and baby for birth at home that I can't recommend it enough.