We’ve been hunked down today in Helensburgh during storm Eowyn, watching videos of flying roofs and seeing pictures of just how much damage has been caused by the winds.

It is a powerful reminder about just how incredible mother nature is. It is not to be taken lightly when there is footage of Helensburgh leisure centre losing its roof or of the garages on the street I used to live destroyed.

There have been many concerns, while my kids have played and watched and cuddled and fought through the day, I’ve had the joy to know they are safe, they are here, and we can stay put; something I’m grateful for. We’ve watched in fascination and at least for a moment we spoke about why this is an example of how much respect nature deserves, because it is immensely powerful.

At the same time, I’ve thought about S, my youngest bubba and how I had him in the living room of my last home here. I’ve thought about the drive out of Helensburgh for As birth and how we had to journey to outside of Glasgow… and how I would not have wanted to be doing that journey today.

Of course, these are extreme circumstances and usually there’s no major storm around, but without a doubt we can say babies have been born today… storm or not, its someone’s birthing day.

Imagine travelling to hosptial in a storm, with no guarantee about road safety, contractions presumably well underway, and the worry of “if there’s a tree blocking the road will I get to hospital in time?” Or “have the midwives managed to make it in for their shifts?” Or “what if the wind gets worse … ?”

It’s pretty scary shit isn’t it?!

And so, I thought I’d share here, that while yes, it’s unlikely that you’re going to have a storm blowing in the middle of your labour, your really cannot know that it won’t happen… so preparing to hunker down, stay home and birth your baby without risking a car journey, might be a really worthwhile consideration. 

Ultimately, I’m not taking about just a homebirth, I’m talking about essentially planning for a freebirth, even if you have absolutely zero intention of ever actually doing it. Preparing for that worst case scenario where you can’t drive out of Helensburgh (or wherever you are reading this of course), or where you get told there’s no midwives available… it means you still have a huge amount of knowledge, confidence and flexibility around your birth. It means that if the worst case scenario comes, you’re not going to freeze or panic or anything like that, you’re just going to carry on and birth your baby like the goddess you are.

With S, I planned and freebirthed him, because I knew that was what I wanted. He was born in Helensburgh last summer, in a house we’d moved into 2 weeks beforehand… we had prepped for a homebirth, and we had prepped for a freebirth, because with K, we hadn’t, and I had learned my lesson. N

No there was no storm or weather warning… but if there had been, I’d have still been at home, cosy, and brought him earthside knowing we were exactly where we needed to be. Thinking about this, I have a really strong pull to share just how important it is to prepare the plans.

Before today I used to tell clients we’d prep 3 plans, an ideal, an intervention and an emergency, but after this, I’m thinking of adding another one in… or at least bringing up the “have you got an idea about what you’d like to do if the actual weather prevents you from safety leaving home while in labour” plan – I might need a shorter name though!

Anyway, if you’re pregnant and not planning a homebirth, in fact, even if a homebrith is not your ideal birthspace, I genuinely think everyone should have a basic homebirth plan, so that if shit hits the fan, you know you still got this!

Thanks for reading and happy planning,

Rohana xox