Number 2 has arrived!

Born on the 10th of December at 8.21 AM, weighing in at a respectable 7 pounds 9 oz, Bryn shot into my hands unassisted. He was born at home in our birthing pool, with Rachel at hand in our front room in front of the fire. More about Rachel later.

Christa's pregnancy had been uncomplicated and the birth was too. At about 4 AM things started to get going, so we set up the pool and made some calls. I got Morwenna ready and took her down to the childminder at 8 AM. By the time I got home, he was crowning. With no sign of a midwife, Bryn was born. When I lifted him to the surface, he was already checking his new surroundings and clocked mummy before he had even drawn his 1st breath. Everyone safe and well.

Rachel is a Doula, a group of unqualified women with lots of birth experience. As always , the Greeks had a word for it; to Doula is to 'mother the mother.' As a group, they are becoming increasing popular as NHS midwifes are increasingly under strain. Having requested that we sign a document stating that we understood that the NHS couldn't guarantee provision of a midwife, we looked for alternatives to the paramedics that the NHS would provide for us taxpayers.

I shouldn't get on my high horse, but all the statistics show that childbirth is the most dangerous times in a young woman's life, and that home births are statistically safer than hospital births, therefore, due to the cost of intervention, cheaper too. Ironically, there was an infection (C difficile) at the Norfolk & Norwich, closing many wards, so we couldn't take him in for a check up. Our family G.P came out and checked him over instead. Whats wrong with the old way of doing things?

Morwenna was amazed to find a baby brother when she came home and has been brilliant with him. Look at her face when she 1st sees him. She is bringing him all her old toys , holding his hand and making sure he is wrapped up in lots of blankets.

It's a dream come true and all down to Christa being an astonishing woman and mother. Those readers who missed their children being born have truly missed out. Those men who have yet to have the honour will see a courage and determination in their partners to be proud of. As I have.