When I was pregnant, I heard and read all these terrible stories about labor and birth, so I expected it to be very painful and long. But when it started I didn't even recognize the first signs! Maybe because I had had a lot of pain in the back during the time we moved house, 2 months before, or maybe because our baby was due on the 25th and it was only the 7th. Luckily, everything had been ready for some days already.

In the Netherlands it is very common to deliver your baby in your own home. We had just lifted the bed to working height 2 days before. So when I finally realized I was in labor it was 2:00 at night. I woke up my husband, who was sound asleep, and we had something to drink. But within one hour it was obvious that this baby was in a hurry. We called the midwife and she came to check on me. All was well; I could take a relaxing bath and she would be back at 9:00 in the morning. That was the plan.

But our baby had other plans. At 6:00 we called the midwife again because the contractions were almost continuous now. She was surprised to find that the baby was ready to come into the world so soon already. The actual birth took about 20 minutes and wasn't as painful as I had expected. It was very nice to be in my own bed, with two helpful doctors and my husband. This made a very cozy and warm home welcome for our first son.

Now I am pregnant again and I hope this little one will see his or her first light in the same bedroom. I am still very happy that I decided to give birth the natural way and in the privacy of our own home.