Bringing Their Baby Home: A Surrogate Home Birth Story

On July 2nd, I decided I was going to do everything in my power to encourage labor within 24 hours. I was 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant and fully ready. I had a stretch and sweep booked with my midwife, followed by acupuncture, and I planned to start castor oil when I got home. I even booked a blowout so my hair would be fresh for the big moment.

I came home and the castor oil started working right away… if you know, you know.

But in a very unexpected twist, while I was playing ball with my dog, he smashed into a vase at the front door and sliced his entire leg open. Mid-contractions, mid–castor oil chaos, everything came to a halt as I rushed him to the emergency vet. He ended up needing surgery, and we weren’t discharged until about 12:45 a.m. By the time I got into bed, I had let go of any expectation that labor would start that night.

At around 2 a.m., I woke up needing to pee and felt a bit wet. I remember thinking, that’s weird. Did I just pee myself? I stood up and as I walked, a gush started trickling down. That’s when I realized, my water had broken.

I called the dad’s, my doula, Nici & Shannon, and my midwife to let them know. I wasn’t having contractions yet, so I reassured everyone not to rush, but to head over. But the moment I hung up, everything changed. I laid down with a pad underneath me, and within 10 minutes contractions started coming every two minutes and my water just kept flowing! 

I called them back immediately and told them to head over, things had shifted fast.

Because my doula’s were about two hours away, I tried calling my backup support team, but everyone was asleep and not picking up. Meanwhile, my poor dog was sitting there, high on post-surgery meds, just staring at me in confusion as chaos unfolded around him.

And of course, Cyrus was asleep in my bed, so I had to move him into his room because we were planning a home birth there.

I laboured mostly on my own through intense contractions until my team arrived much faster than expected. Their arrival in the middle of the night made all the difference.

By around 6 a.m., I was checked and already 5–6 cm with a cervical lip. My midwife suggested she help stretch it, and she was able to move me to about 8 cm.

At that point, things were moving quickly. The dads were upstairs taking care of the dog, listening in on everything unfolding, and Cyrus was still fast asleep. Our birth photographer arrived, and we hadn’t yet figured out the birth pool setup…luckily, it was hers, so she jumped in and got it going right away. I was in intense labour at that point and just needed the water. I kept looking at it, wishing it would be ready already! 

Once the pool was ready, I got in and was finally able to rest between contractions. Things progressed quickly, and I reached full dilation not long after.

My doulas were incredible, helping me shift positions and encouraging movement to help guide baby into the right position, her head was slightly off to one side and causing some sticking. Once I changed position, I could actually feel her head myself, which was an incredible moment. She was close, but needed a bit of help.

My midwife discovered her cord was wrapped around her neck and carefully unwrapped it, then helped adjust her position. From there, she was born in just four pushes!

Her dads were there the whole time, witnessing her arrival, and it was truly magical. She had the longest umbilical cord I’ve ever seen, and it continued pulsing for over 15 minutes. We all sat in awe of her together.

After birth, we moved to the bed to wait for contractions so I could deliver the placenta. But my body had other plans, it seemed to be done. No more contractions came. We tried everything: breastfeeding, cord blood techniques, and multiple rounds of oxytocin, but the placenta wouldn’t release.

Eventually, the decision was made for me to go to the hospital for assistance. I was really disappointed, I had envisioned staying home in bed with the baby and the dads, soaking it all in, but I knew it was the right call.

During all of this, Cyrus came down the stairs from being fast asleep, completely unaware of what had just happened in the wee early morning. It was one of the sweetest moments, he looked around like, “what am I walking into?” and then came to cuddle me in bed and meet little Lisa.

The ambulance was called, and I was carried out of my home by the crew, an experience I will not forget!

At the hospital, I was taken to the ER where an OB was able to remove the placenta after two attempts (thank you fentanyl). Thankfully, no further intervention was needed, and everything was resolved safely!

Because of the transfer, I stayed at the hospital for about six hours afterward. Shannon and Nici took amazing care of me while I recovered. I drank more juice boxes than I ever have in my life, and Shannon even hand-fed me a cold cut trio, it was honestly perfect in its own way.

When we finally returned home, the dads came with Lisa, and we all got the reunion cuddle we had missed. It was quiet, beautiful, and full circle.

She’s here, and I feel so proud of this journey and so honoured to have helped bring her safely into her family.

July 3, 2026 — Lisa is born to her amazing dads

7 lbs 10 oz | 20 inches

Water broke at 2:00 a.m. | Born at 7:30 a.m. Birth Photos by: Christina King