The paramedics arrived with just three minutes to spare

On Friday night, I started feeling some period like cramps that lingered throughout the night but disappeared by Saturday morning. Later that afternoon and into the evening, I began noticing small surges, I started using my hypnobirthing techniques.

Around 8:30pm, the surges began to intensify, so I hopped in the shower while Jordan got the car ready to head to the Birth Center. At that point, the surges were still fairly spaced out, so we weren’t in a huge rush. But by 9pm, everything suddenly kicked into gear.

Of course just as things were ramping up the hot water in the shower ran out. I was left tottering around the house, trying to find a comfortable place as I was feeling pressure...I made it into one of the bedrooms of our Airbnb, had another powerful surge and my waters broke.

Jordan called our lovely midwife, who quickly decided it was time to call an ambulance. It was too late to make it to the Birth Center. The paramedics arrived with just three minutes to spare—any longer, and Jordan would’ve been delivering her himself!

Solei was born in just a few strong pushes at 9:34 PM.

We found the hypnobirthing really helpful, especially when the surges were coming on strong: it was nice to have a break in between. I loved how it all turned out. Even though I didn't get to have my water birth, our dog Nixon could be there, the ambo crew were really good and everything went so well! 

The ambulance took us to the Birth Center, my placenta came out and we were discharged to go back home after 5 hours. Solei was 2.660kg and 48cm long.