Parenting

I gave birth on my bathroom floor but I had no idea I was in labour as my waters didn’t break – he just came out


A MUM-OF-TWO has told how she gave birth at home on her bathroom floor, despite her waters not breaking prior to her son being born.

Vanessa Jeffery, from Brisbane, Australia planned to “labour at home” until she felt ready to head to the hospital, but her new bub couldn’t wait and arrived early – straight into the hands of the doula.

Vanessa Jeffery, from Brisbane, Australia, gave birth on her bathroom floor

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Vanessa Jeffery, from Brisbane, Australia, gave birth on her bathroom floor
Her husband Chris and doula were on hand to help before paramedics arrived

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Her husband Chris and doula were on hand to help before paramedics arrived

The 32-year-old teacher said she started to experience mild contractions a day before the birth, and knew she was going into the early stages of labour.

She called her doula, Selena Rollason, who rushed over to offer support to Vanessa and her husband Chris as they prepared to head to the hospital.

The new mum revealed that she sat on the bathroom floor as “that’s where I had been the most comfortable.”

But she was shocked to discover her baby’s head already starting to appear, even though her waters hadn’t yet broken.

Vanessa and Chris welcomed their second child, Nathaniel

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Vanessa and Chris welcomed their second child, NathanielCredit: Brisbane Birth Photography
The new bub was still in the water sack when he was born

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The new bub was still in the water sack when he was bornCredit: Brisbane Birth Photography

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, she said: “At first it was pure disbelief. I thought I still had hours of active labour to get through.”

She said that she’d yelled out to her husband Chris and her doula Selena who quickly rushed to her aid.

She yelled, “Selena I think my water sac is coming out’, and as she rushed over, Selena could see the baby’s head, “still fully encased in the membranes and waters”.

Chris rushed to grab towels and placed them beneath his wife and within minutes their baby boy Nathaniel was born.

Vanessa was always planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after Caesaraen), but hadn’t planned on a home birth.

The new mum was taken to hospital after the birth for a check-up

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The new mum was taken to hospital after the birth for a check-upCredit: Brisbane Birth Photography
After one night in hospital she was allowed to go home

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After one night in hospital she was allowed to go home Credit: Brisbane Birth Photography

But despite the sudden turn of events, the new mum explained that her “mind was very quiet when I got to hold my baby for the first time.”

She said: “It was much more emotional and instinctual than I could have imagined.

“Once he was in my arms, I felt that instantaneous bond and love for my baby with a huge sense of accomplishment with what we had achieved.”

She said that the hospital system “makes you fight every inch of the way to be able to birth the way our bodies are made to,” especially after a cesarean section, and that “this is my little piece of proof that women’s bodies are amazing”.

Selena Rollason, Vanessa's doula, delivered the baby and captured the moment on camera

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Selena Rollason, Vanessa’s doula, delivered the baby and captured the moment on cameraCredit: Brisbane Birth Photography

“It was the most calm beautiful birth and that’s what I was aiming for and why I had asked Selena to be my doula as she helped me achieve that, ” she said.

Selena, who’s also a birth photographer, captured the beautiful moment on camera which shows Vanessa looking overjoyed as she held her newborn just moments after birth.

The new mum said: “I’m immensely proud of all of us. I’ll cherish that photo and that memory for the rest of my life. I’m so grateful to have had Selena there.”

Speaking of the unexpected delivery, Selena said: “Her waters had not ruptured and behaviourally (and physically), she wasn’t showing many of the normal signs that come with being close to delivering the baby.”

Vanessa's story was shared online, along with her new birth photos

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Vanessa’s story was shared online, along with her new birth photosCredit: Brisbane Birth Photography

“Had we of moved her 20 minutes earlier there is no question about it, she would have delivered the baby in the car, in what would have been so much more of a stressful and unmanaged situation.”

Selena later shared the candid snaps on her Brisbane Birth Photography Facebook page, and was met with a “fabulous” and “wonderful” response. 

“It is such a heartwarming story to share amongst all the challenges in the world right now so people jumped on the beauty and positivity of this moment,” she said.

Vanessa and her and newborn Nathaniel were taken to the hospital for a check-up following the home birth- and the family were back at home and settled within 24 hours.

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We also shared how a mum delivered her own baby on the bathroom floor after labour lasted just two minutes.

Plus a new mum had no idea she was pregnant and gave birth in the bath alone – but she didn’t even get the urge to push, he just came out.

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