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Here is Jan's story of Harvey and Finlay's births....
 "Jo Parkington was my midwife in the later stages of pregnancy and delivered our first son Harvey in 2003. I had a fantastic water birth in hospital and Harvey’s personality continues to reflect the calm, content and joy filled way in which he came into the world. After this amazing experience, I was incredibly lucky and grateful that Jo was available to work her magic again throughout my second pregnancy right up to the water birth of Finlay, at home, in November 2006.
"I attended hospital about 36 weeks into my first pregnancy worried about some slight bleeding. Jo was on duty that day and I immediately felt at ease. Jo seemed particularly interested in the post hypnotic suggestion techniques that my husband (Richard) and I were using to keep me relaxed whilst various investigations and checks were carried out. As we chatted, we discussed my birth plan and asked whether the bleeding would affect my chance of a water birth which I was very keen on. Jo reassured us and promised to try and ensure that she was at the hospital when the big day came.
"Richard and I were both extremely pleased to see Jo when I finally went into labour about 1 week overdue. The relaxation techniques and post hypnotic suggestion had already helped in the early stages of labour. Jo ensured that we could continue to follow our birth plan and the fun began!
"Jo’s quiet confidence and air of control is catching. She managed to make sure we were in control and making all the decisions, letting us know what our options were with total honesty about the pro’s and con’s in each case. All this without making us feel isolated and totally responsible for the outcome of our choices. Jo’s approach was one of constant encouragement to trust my body and my own instincts. Richard felt comfortable providing his own encouragement and with the hypnosis techniques was able to feel very involved throughout. With a minimum of invasive checks, Jo was able to blend into the surroundings, checking water temperature, keeping tabs and defending our wants and needs when other members of staff tried to intervene.
"With just one or two puffs on the Gas and Air I gave birth to Harvey in the water, with Richard there, exactly as planned. We were not hurried in any way which meant I could cuddle Harvey in the pool until it was time to deliver the placenta. Whilst this happened Richard had skin to skin time and Jo ensured I was comfortable before setting about helping me latch Harvey on for his first feed.
"On the ward 24 hours later I was becoming concerned that Harvey had not fed at all since. Jo came to see me and, with more of her (by now very familiar) easy reassurance, reminded me that this was nature, he was a human being and he would eat when he was ready for food. I was delighted when Jo suggested that I could easily have managed a home birth.
"From the moment I found out I was pregnant again, I was intent on repeating my experience with Harvey. I could not imagine being able to improve on the winning formula of our first baby so decided to have the same birth plan but to have it at home. We knew with Jo, that she would have the knowledge, expertise, experience and confidence to allow us to achieve another enjoyable relaxing water birth.
 We bought an inflatable “Made In Water” birthing pool, an aquarium thermometer, candles and plenty of logs for the fire! We had kept in touch with Jo and by now we both knew how each other worked and Jo knew how we wanted the birth to be.
"One week before my official due date, we phoned Jo from home to say that I’d had my show. As labour progressed we kept her informed and when the contractions became stronger Jo came to see me. The pool was nearly full by now and Richard continued to maintain the right pool temperature (as Jo and I looked through some recipe books between contractions!) and to stoke the fire. Without the continual poking and prodding you would associate with a ‘conventional’ hospital labour, Jo consistently assured me that all was well and that my body and I were in control.
"When the contractions became quite strong and frequent I got into the pool for support, to help me relax and to provide the gentlest possible entry into the world for the baby. With Jo’s help I worked with my body and responded to the urge to push when it felt like I should. Only half an hour after getting into the pool with two strong pushes Finlay’s head appeared. The buoyancy of the water allowed me to sit up and gently ease him out using my own hands as I pushed with the contractions in unison. I took him from underwater and Jo helped me to latch him on immediately to feed. Once again Richard was able to hold Finlay against his skin as the placenta was delivered.
 "Having all my home comforts (bathroom, fluffy towels, clean pyjamas) I was soon ready to sit in my own lounge on my own sofa and feed my new baby with a once again awe struck husband!"
 "As Jo promised, labouring at home reinforced a lovely feeling of family unity which we were able to focus on throughout the labour and into the night as we all got into our bed and cuddled skin to skin."
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