Home Birth Canterbury

19/01/2026

What would you like to see from Home Birth Canterbury in 2026?

14/01/2026

Check out this giveaway for TENS unit!

Hey mamã ! We're giving away a Labour TENS Hire Premium Package valued at $99.99 🤍

One lucky mamã will win a Labour TENS Hire Premium Package, containing:
- Six weeks hire of an Elle 2 Labour TENS machine
- Free Shipping & Return Postage
- A set of 2 AcuBirth Balls valued at $19.99
- A Natal Care Birth Comb valued at $8.99
- An extra set of TENS electrodes valued at $15.99
- Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond e-book
- Mum-to-Be Sample Pack of goodies for mum & baby

To enter:
Follow our page.
TAG a friend or fellow mamã in the comments.
1 tag = 1 entry
Share this post for 5 bonus entries!

Open to NZ residents only.
Giveaway ends 11:59pm Monday 09 February 2026.
Winner drawn Tuesday 10 February.
This giveaway is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta.

12/01/2026

Are you currently pregnant?

What mental, emotional and spiritual preparation are you doing for the birth & postpartum journey?

Comment where the pregnancy adventure is taking you emotionally at the moment... what a beautiful ride!
👇

- Bonnie

12/01/2026

Love a vbac!

✨ What is a VBAC?

VBAC = Vaginal Birth After Cesarean.

It means giving birth vaginally after having had a previous C-section.

And yes, for many families, it is a safe, evidence-based, reasonable option.

🤍 Why do people choose VBAC?

Many parents choose VBAC because they want:
✨A physiological birth experience
✨Faster physical recovery
✨Lower risk of infection and blood loss
✨Less impact on future pregnancies
✨More autonomy in labor
✨To avoid repeat major abdominal surgery

VBAC isn’t about “proving your body works.”

It’s about choice, safety, and informed consent.

🌿 Benefits of VBAC?
✔️ Shorter hospital stay
✔️ Lower risk of surgical complications
✔️ Less postpartum pain for many
✔️ Easier bonding and mobility after birth
✔️ Lower risk of placenta accreta in future pregnancies
✔️ Higher chance of spontaneous labor in future births

⚠️ Risks of VBAC (being honest matters)?

The main risk discussed is uterine rupture, which is:
📌Rare (about 0.5–1% depending on factors)
📌But serious when it occurs
📌Why informed monitoring and individualized planning matter

Other risks can include:
🔶Emergency C-section
🔶Labor not progressing
🔶Emotional stress if unsupported

VBAC is not risk-free but neither is repeat C-section.

There is no risk-free way to give birth.

There is only risk-aware, informed choice.

🧠 What increases VBAC success?
✅Prior vaginal birth
✅Spontaneous labor
✅Supportive provider/team
✅Upright movement in labor
✅Patience with labor length
✅Avoiding unnecessary induction when possible

VBAC success rates are often 60–80% when properly supported.

🔥 The real issue?

VBAC is often framed as “dangerous” while repeat surgery is framed as “safe.”

But both carry risks.

The difference is who gets to decide.

VBAC is not reckless.

VBAC is not selfish.

VBAC is not anti-medicine.

VBAC is informed autonomy.

You do not owe anyone a repeat surgery.

You do not owe anyone a vaginal birth.

You owe yourself truth, support, and real options.

Birth after cesarean deserves honesty and not fear tactics.

-Love
Flor Cruz
Badassmotherbirther

Photo: Little Sparrow Doula Care

07/01/2026

Have you thought to yourself "I wonder what it would be like to go along to one of those Home Birth Canterbury meet ups?"

Or maybe "I want to get involved in Home Birth Canterbury some day!"

Guess what - 2026 is your year!

We are so keen to meet new people and have more home birth chats with families around Canterbury.

******
Come along to our February meet up at 7:30pm at 156 Pages Road, Wainoni, on Monday Feb 2nd. This is your chance! Mark your calendar now so you don't forget.
******

FAQs!

- My 'baby' is 8 now, I feel like I am too old to get involved.....
Nah.... anyone of any age with kids or no kids is very welcome if you're interested in home birth, natural birth or anything remotely related! Come along!

- I can't make it on Monday nights....
All good, please sing out if this is you! If there is enough interest in another time we can make it happen.

- I am not a 'crunchy', hippy mum.....
We embrace a diverse group of people with different philosophies about life. The thing that unites us is home birth. So whether you are a 'crunchy' freebirther, or whether you find peace in getting as many scans in pregnancy as possible, you are so welcome to join our space.

Have another question? Post it in the comments!

Tag a friend to come to our February meet up with you! ☕️

01/01/2026

Announcing.....

Drumroll please....

HOME BIRTH CANTERBURY'S BRAND NEW LIBRARY!

We have a collection of some beautiful books that have been donated by our community, and some that we have purchased ourselves that we would love to loan out to families.

We have books for reading to preschoolers about home birth, we have books about pregnancy & childbirth and women's wonderful bodies, and we have books about midwifery.

Now that our library is up and running we want to loan a book to you!
We aren't sure what the interest will be in the community for these books. So we are opening the library as a trial to see if there is interest. We won't keep offering the library unless there is demand for this.

So... tag a friend in the comments below to let them know, tag your midwife to let her know so she can direct her clients to the library, and click the link below for a list of the titles we have!

https://www.canterburyhomebirth.org.nz/book-library

01/01/2026

Getting to know a brand new little person in the comfort of your own home 🥰👶

23/12/2025

A blessing for your postpartum
----

May you be safe.
May you feel held.
May all the tears you cry today be happy ones.

May you be loved.
May you feel known.
As you journey into the unknown unchartered waters of a shifting identity as mum to this new person.

May your days be slow enough for all the joys to be savored.
May your days pass fast enough for the challenges to be left behind.

May you feel content.
May you feel at peace.
May you somehow find the night wakings to be sacred and precious to you.

May your courage grow.
May your capacity expand.
May your love for this beautiful little baby stretch and grow and burst beyond the horizons of your heart.

May you have grace.
May you hold compassion.
And may this grace and compassion be used with yourself as you move through motherhood.

May today be a delight.
May your baby's snuggly head smell like heaven.
And may you find many moments of sunshine scattered across the coming weeks.

------
Tag a pregnant or postpartum mum in the comments!

- love from Bonnie
Home Birth Canterbury

17/12/2025

"To be born in the house is quite nice because on this occasion one does not yet have major aesthetic needs; instead one cries at his beloved ones without worrying much about reasons and conditions."
- Albert Einstein
(Who was born at home!)

Did you know Einstein was a home birth baby?
I heard somewhere he weighed 2 pounds at birth (but have not been able to verify that).
- Bonnie

14/12/2025

If you had to describe your home birth with one word, what would that be?

09/12/2025

Did you know we hire out birth pool equipment at Home Birth Canterbury? We have great rates for our hire equipment because our mission is to support home births here in Otautahi.

Hire items & costs:
- Birth pool & liner for just $90 if your midwife is a member of Home Birth Canterbury
- Califont (gas hot water heater) for $65
- Pool liner alone for $45

Contact Hannah at poolhire@canterburyhomebirth.org.nz to enquire or click the link below to read more on our website!

Home Birth Canterbury has two birth pools and pumps available to hire. These are both 'Birth Pool in a Box' pools which are inflatable. For more information about the pools, contact us.

03/12/2025

Our Home Birth Story
Shared by Christchurch home birth mum Chinnu 🩵

Coming from India, where home birth is rarely encouraged, choosing to birth at home felt courageous — but it was deeply on my heart. I dreamed of a peaceful, natural birth surrounded by my husband, my midwife, and God’s presence.

There were moments when fear and pressure pushed me toward a hospital birth, but my midwife brought so much calm and confidence back into my journey. With her support, I surrendered the rest to God and trusted His timing.

Labor unfolded gently at home — worship music playing, my husband beside me, and prayer carrying me through every wave. No bright lights, no rushing, just peace.

At 2:10 a.m., at 40+2 weeks, our baby arrived through the most beautiful water birth. It was calm, sacred, and everything I had prayed for.

Coming from a culture where home birth is uncommon, this experience changed me. It showed me strength I didn’t know I had and reminded me how faithful God is when we release our fears.

I would choose home birth again in a heartbeat.“As for God, His way is perfect…” — Psalm 18:30

- Chinnu