Big news, our little girl arrived this weekend! May 24th at 12:40am, 7lbs 12 oz Alia was born at home! Here is her birth story...

At 39 weeks pregnant I was so "done" and ready to meet this little girl. I walked, ate Indian, Thai, even spicy sushi, I tried pineapple and evening primrose oil...something worked. Likely the walking, walking and more walking on Saturday is what finally got things going. After weeks of contractions on and off I was excited when they seem to keep going Saturday evening. We were to go out to a friends' place up the street but I wanted to see if the contractions were actually going somewhere so, my parents who had come in to take the kids for the night so we could enjoy a night out, stayed with us for dinner and we went for yet another walk.

After a really nice hour long walk my contractions were between 4-5 minutes apart, not super painful but uncomfortable. We got home close to 9pm and I called my midwife and she said she would be over very soon...I am known to have very fast labours so we weren't going to mess around.

My husband and my mum stayed with me and my dad took my two older kids to their house for the night. My sister joined us once we knew things were really happening that night.

Things did move pretty quickly once the midwives arrived at our house. I wasn't sure at that point if we would head to the hospital or stay home (my first two were born at the hospital but we were prepared for a home birth as well). As my contractions picked up and they checked me we felt comfortable staying home, and I am so glad we did. My labour picked up about midnight, this is what I call serious labour, when it hurts like hell and there is no relief other than getting that baby out. 40 minutes later, a blue and slippery Alia was born. The cord was around her neck so it took a little longer for her to pink up but she is perfectly fine and pink as can be now.

We were both very very well taken care of by our fantastic midwife team and by 3:30 am we were all comfy in our own bed and in her bassinet next to us our brand new baby girl, with no name. She slept amazingly that night and most of the next day. The next night was a whole other story...and so is picking her name, but I'll get to those in another blog.

I look forward to sharing more stories of my adventures with baby Alia, because if anyone loves to have a baby and a life it is me!