This extra-ordinary experience began when Matthew and I made a commitment to each other the day he asked me to marry him. We eloped a short time later and it was not long before we were ready to extend our relationship to the next level. The magical day arrived when Matthew and I knew that I was pregnant. Our home pregnancy test confirmed what we already knew. All the work we had done during the four month pre-conception stage greatly contributed to us conceiving as soon as we 'started trying'. With both of us having worked in and with natural therapies throughout our lives, we wanted to add our own touch to this special event.

Now came the time for serious decision making. How and where were we going to bring this much loved, much wanted and much planned baby into this world. We started our research the usual way. First with hospitals (public and private) and then the birthing centres only to be disheartened with their very formal procedures, invasive methods and sterile environments. We believed and knew within ourselves that it could be better. We had to find a more appropriate way.

Everything was leading us towards a drug free home birth. We wanted to create our own environment and make this birth a very special and private event. We gave everything about the pregnancy and birth a lot of thought and paid particular attention to detail. We wanted to have the familiar loving surroundings of our new home for us all to begin our life together. We had decided to move before I fell pregnant but ended up moving whilst I was pregnant, just eight weeks before our baby was due.

I connected with a doctor who had an open mind about home birthing. A friend and colleague gave us a lead (which also came from my doctor) regarding a midwife who has birthed many babies at home. Matthew and I decided to ask this friend to be part of our committed team. We discussed the use of hypnosis, mesmerism, and psychophysical healing during pregnancy, labor and the birth. Relaxation was to be a major factor in our baby's birth and I knew that it was achievable with a lot of practise, so I started very early in the pregnancy. I also continued with yoga from when Matthew and I were doing it during our pre-conception stage. I joined a class that specialised in pre-natal yoga. I found the class very challenging because I was the only person in a group of ten women having a home birth. I continued to focus and remain strong that I could deliver our baby at home.

Mathew and I arranged an appointment with the much-talked about independent midwife Akal Khalsa. We had a list of questions ready. When we met her for the first time we knew she was the one, we just connected in a very special way. We had all our questions answered plus more, we knew that having Akal in our team would benefit the arrival of our baby and ourselves, everything was just falling into place. We had found our midwife. We both felt empowered and relaxed about our decision on having a home birth.

I concentrated on being positive and getting my daily routine happening. Fear of any sort just didn't stay long with me. Whenever I came up against it, I set about moving through it. I chose not to listen to other people's freely offered opinions, fears and comments about what I should or should not be doing. Matthew and I stood very firm that what we were doing was right for us and our baby.

Akal's personalised service was fantastic, she was always there and available to share her wealth of knowledge and experience and to answer all our questions. We attended the visits with Akal together. Matthew was so excited when he heard our baby's heartbeat. Throughout the pregnancy my blood pressure continued to remain low to normal, urine was fine, leg swelling was minimal and my stomach was expanding with the growth of our baby. The results of these vital signs at check-ups continued to empower me to remain focused on a home birth.

Akal suggested that we to do antenatal classes. She was able to provide us with the name of an association that we made contact with. We got in touch with an independent childbirth educator and after reading her course structure and content, we enrolled and looked forward to gaining some more knowledge and skills to add to our already expanding library.

All was going well, my check ups with Akal were fabulous, and we were still on track to have a home birth. Akal's advice about all aspects of the pregnancy, labour and the birth enabled us to be more informed and helped our confidence grow. I read lots, rested lots, walked an hour everyday (Akal really emphasized this to improve cardiovascular performance and aerobic fitness), practised my hypnosis and other suggested excerises. Sometimes I just wanted to have a break from this full on routine and then a voice would say - what if the baby came tomorrow? We didn't stop our routine and we believe that when our baby finally did arrived that everything we had done contributed to the fantastic outcome we had.

After forty-one weeks gestation Jessica arrived on the October 2nd 2001 at 4.06am in six and a half-hours of labour and she decided to arrive in the breech position. We believed this baby had a strong mind of her own and wanted to do things her own way. During an internal examination we discovered that our baby was breech. I didn't doubt Akal at all when she told me that I could do it. I strongly believed her and an hour later our baby was born. Our baby arrived safe and well, weighing in at 7lb 11½ oz (3.5kg), length 53cm, head circumference 36cm, lots of very short hair and baby blue eyes. With all the work we had done together, I trusted Akal all the way. I required stitches unbeknown to me at the time of birth and all was put right by Akal. I still remember it all clearly as if it was only yesterday. Our baby girl arrived in our home, drug free, with the support of some very special people and in a very loving environment that we had created.

Now that Jessica has arrived there is still more learning in store for us. Akal's aftercare, which involved a visit everyday for seven days, was the only contact we chose to have with the outside world. We were having a two-week bonding period to get to know our daughter before everyone else meets her. It was a joyful and loving time. We learnt so much about each other and ourselves during this period. From this time onwards we would be greeting the world as a family of three. On day ten Akal came to check our progress as the next time we would see her was at six weeks. It was amazing, just sitting back and taking note of all the changes and allowing Jessica to communicate with us in her own way. Our check ups went well, we have a very happy and healthy baby girl.

Jessica is now five months old and our life so far has been truly amazing, she is a very happy, healthy and a loving baby. All three of us thank Akal for being part of this wondrous experience in our lives, we look forward to using her services in the future.

Best wishes, many thanks & lots of love from Matthew, Leanne & Jessica

Akal Khalsa is a Sydney based midwife and provides midwifery services including: homebirths,
pre-conception consultations, childbirth preparation, nutritional advise and breastfeeding support.

For more information Contact Akal.