Kerena
I’ve had the absolute privilege of giving birth to all three of my tamāhine within the comfort of home. My own Māmā birthed me at home 32 years ago - which was quite unconventional in 1994. I grew up hearing the stories of our whare filled with whānau welcoming me into the world with karakia, karanga, waiata, and the smell of baking from the kauta. Those stories stayed with me.
From the moment I was hapū with my mātāmua in 2019, I knew home birth was what I wanted, if I was able to. That whakaaro was strengthened after my partner Charles and I attended hapū wānanga, where we gained confidence in our tikanga tawhito around natural birth, and within myself as a wahine moving through the birthing process.
Throughout all of my hapūtanga I stayed physically active to prepare my tinana, but I also focused deeply on my mindset. I had complete trust that my body knew how to navigate whānautanga safely. At the same time, I stayed flexible enough that if hospital or medical care was required, I would absolutely follow that path.
In the early hours of 19 June 2019, deep in the season of Puanga, I lost my mucus plug at around 3am and things moved quickly from there. Two and a half hours later, our mātāmua, Te Whiri o te Koka, was born into the arms of her Pāpā, Nanny, Koko, and our midwife. As a first time Māmā, that moment was deeply empowering, welcoming our pēpi into a calm and serene environment at home.
Two years later, I fell hapū with our second tamāhine. Our strong-willed Heneriata arrived at 38 weeks on 24 December 2021, just time for Kirihimete, it was another swift and powerful home birth. This time, I felt confident and sure as I recognised the cues and just like my first, losing my mucus plug signalled labour was approaching.
Our pōtiki, Te Ihorere, arrived right on her due date 28 October 2024 at my parents’ whare, which is where we were living at the time. The cues before her whānautanga echoed my first two births: steady, familiar, fast. And just like both her tuakana, she was welcomed into te ao mārama surrounded by whānau, love, warmth, and calmness.
I am so grateful to have experienced three safe and beautiful home births. Each one gentle and powerful, supported by my partner, my parents and my incredible midwives. There truly is no greater feeling than bringing life into this world within the comfort of your home and the embrace of your whānau. If I could offer any encouragement to other Māmā, it would be to prepare yourself ā-tinana, ā-hinengaro, ā-wairua in the months and weeks leading up to birth. Whānautanga is as spiritual as it is physical. Walking, karakia, oriori and pregnancy pilates (on YouTube!) became daily rituals for me. Trust and move with the flow of your tinana, but remain fluid enough to change your birth plan if necessary. However your whānautanga unfolds, may you feel informed, supported, and confident in your own choices.
- Kerena Wano
