Keri’s Birth Story

SECOND TIME MUM – HOME BIRTH – HYPNOBIRTHING – POST DATES

~ Written by Keri ~

We had previously attended Mollie’s group sessions during our first pregnancy in 2024 and had the most AMAZING home birth with our daughter (at 40+6, this is relevant). I knew I wanted Mollie’s support for our second pregnancy and decided to book the 1-1 session, building on knowledge we had acquired from before for a more bespoke session around our wishes second time around.

Keri and Jason’s first home birth in 2024

My pregnancy was uncomplicated and very similar to my first, so I knew another home birth was exactly what I envisioned and wanted. Around the start of my third trimester, I started listening to Mollie’s affirmations and mindfulness tracks, had plenty of candle lit baths, used a lavender diffuser and sleep spray, wrote my own affirmations and listened to a song on repeat (‘Adrift’ by Christopher Lloyd Clarke which is the music behind all Mollie’s tracks). Using all of these methods as anchors to create a super relaxed and zen space. I tried to replicate everything I’d done in my first pregnancy, with the hopes of recreating the birth.

One thing I didn’t plan for was to go as “overdue” as I did…
Important to note my cycle due date was 5-days later than the date given from my scan. I was told by my midwife a cycle due date is often more accurate for you as an individual (if you are regular), and therefore I made it clear I would be basing all my decisions around my cycle due date – meaning on paper I was more “overdue” than in my head.

Additionally to being “overdue”, I was measuring small from the tape measurements and consented to two additional scans at week 32 and 35 – both well within the average range. I declined two further additional scans at 40 weeks as I felt this would be counterproductive to all the mental prep I had done, and I was still having regular movements and strong heart rates.

Because I was “overdue” and measuring “small” I sat outside of home birth guidance and received a phone call and letters stating the risks involved – lots of scary language!! I had a big old wobble and reached out to Mollie (who had been in touch since our session checking in regardless). Following this chat I felt confident with my decision to trust my body and give it more time.

I created a timeline involving two stretch and sweeps, an additional scan and a then a discussion about induction at 42 weeks (42+5 on paper) – essentially, I was buying time by jumping through hoops to appease the midwives and consultants. Both stretch and sweeps had no effect and we were trying all the tricks in the book to get things going! There were moments where I felt quite flat as it felt my dream home birth option was slowly being taken away. But I’d have a bath, listen to a couple of Mollie’s tracks to get my head back in the game and remember “my baby will come when my baby is ready”. I also switched my phone off as the number of messages asking if baby had arrived was beginning to feel overwhelming.

I hadn’t anticipated how mentally challenging it can be going “overdue” – physically I felt fine, good in fact! But having Mollie in my corner was a great source of comfort and reduced so much anxiety.

Anyway, onto the good stuff!! On Sunday (41+5 cycle, 42+3 scan) I was in the bath and started feeling tightenings at around 7pm. I’d been experiencing braxton hicks for weeks so ignored them, but after half an hour I noticed they’d began increasing in intensity so I started timing them and asked Jason to fill the pool. At 10:30pm there was a dramatic shift – suddenly I couldn’t talk through them and began using the 4-8 breathing method. We rang the home birth team and my parents collected our daughter.

Between contractions I switched on my diffuser and tea lights, and put on my music – implementing the anchors I had practiced to create a calm and relaxing environment. I stuck on my tens machine, grabbed my birth comb and paced downstairs while remembering to breathe through each surge.

At midnight I decided to get into the pool and being in the water was instant relief. I continued to breathe through each surge while holding my comb and Jason’s hand – he was my biggest cheerleader throughout!
The midwives arrived at 00:30 and crept into the house, they read my birth plan and unpacked their bags. They checked in with me but were not overbearing – they were right there if I needed them but didn’t impose.
The contractions were coming thick and fast and I requested entonox to help me manage the intensity.

At approximately 2:40am my body had shifted into the down phase of labour and I could feel strong urges to push with each contraction. Because I was “overdue” and “small” the midwives were keen to do regular heart rate monitoring using the doppler which I was more than happy with… however it broke and therefore they needed to use the pinard. In order to do this, I needed to get out the pool which I was happy to do. I lay on the sofa and the midwife checked baby’s heart rate. The urge to push was getting much stronger and I felt comfortable where I was so decided to not get back into the pool. During a particularly strong contraction my waters broke (everywhere!!! All over the midwife!!! Occupational hazard I suppose!!) and after maybe two more contractions baby was born at 3:25am and placed onto my chest.

Just as written in our plan, Jason and I looked at the gender and found out together we’d had another little girl.

Just the same as my first birth, there was meconium in the waters which wasn’t apparent until after she was born. It was therefore advised we transferred into Bracken Birthing Centre for a 12-hour observation. Just like last time, we consented as it felt better to be safe than sorry. We therefore spend the following day in hospital – the midwives were absolutely lovely, we were really taken care of (buckets of tea and toast) and all observations were normal – we left exactly 12 hours after arriving!

I had spent my whole second pregnancy doing everything the same as the first with the hopes I would replicate the birth. And after a wobble towards the end thinking it wasn’t going to happen, I ended up having an almost carbon copy birth! The only differences were the duration of labour and the stage where my waters broke. Both home births, 90% in the pool, born on the sofa, early hours, meconium in the waters. Copy and paste!

I feel really proud of myself for listening and trusting my body, following my gut instinct and doing what felt right and safe for me. (I understand I went against medical advice and this isn’t a story advocating for that, it’s important to listen to medical professionals).

I can hand on my heart say I would not have had the amazing birth experiences if it wasn’t for Mollie’s sessions and unwavering support. She has guided me through two pregnancies and two gorgeous, positive home births. Mollie truly cared about me and my experience and having her support throughout was invaluable.

I am eternally grateful for how Mollie helped me bring my children onto this planet and I cannot thank her enough for teaching and guiding me how to give birth in the way that was best for me and my body.
One day I will be able to share my positive birth stories with my daughters and hopefully help mould their experiences should they ever decide to become mothers themselves.

And a little side note, I met one of my now best friends at Mollie’s group classes in 2024!!! And another best friend employed Mollie and had the most amazing vaginal breech birth!! Mollie is worth her weight in gold!!

Thank you so much to Keri and Jason for sharing their beautiful birth story. It was an honour to support them with their preparation for their second birth!

If you would like personalised, antenatal support with knowledge and practical tools for labour, take a look at my Private Birth Preparation Courses in Somerset and online:

For my popular group antenatal course: The Complete Birth Preparation Course – see my upcoming Taunton dates here:

Read more real-life birth stories here!