DIARY OF A BIRTH: The mum who gave birth with the help of her four-year-old.

When Casey Burns fell pregnant with her third child, Brodie, she knew she wanted a home birth. It was her husband Callum who took a bit of convincing.

Working as a paramedic, Callum had heard some horror stories. And he's not the only one.

"Everybody is very shocked if you say, 'I'm going to have my baby at home'. They go, 'Oh, what really? Why would you want to do that'," Casey tells Mamamia's Diary of a Birth podcast.

But for Casey, it was an easy decision that led to a birth she can only describe as "magical" — and her four-year-old daughter was even able to get involved in the process.

Listen to Casey's birth story on Mamamia's newest podcast, Diary of a Birth. Post continues below.

Casey had long been fascinated by the idea of having a baby at home on her farm, surrounded by the familiarity and peacefulness of the family Glenberrie Orchard.

A bout with Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a type of brain inflammation caused by antibodies, a few years before her first pregnancy meant the option was off the cards.

"I knew that in my heart of hearts, I really, really, really wanted a home birth," she said.

As soon as she was pregnant with Brodie, Casey applied to the Wollongong Midwifery Group Practice Program, which offers women a dedicated midwife to support them throughout their pregnancy, during childbirth and in the early weeks at home with a new baby.

Not everyone will be eligible for a home birth. Your GP or midwife will let you know whether it's an option. If you want to have your pregnancy care through a publicly funded homebirth program, you need a GP referral, but not for private midwives.

"There are quite a few hoops that you do have to jump through to be allowed to home birth, but I was lucky to pass all the tests," Casey said.

Watch the trailer for Mamamia's newest podcast, Diary of a Birth. Post continues below.

So, how do you prepare for a home birth?

Casey's pregnancy with Brodie was nice and mundane, exactly as she wanted it.

"It was a very, very boring pregnancy I like to describe it as boring which is a good thing in this situation," she said.

It meant her home birth plan was full steam ahead. But not everyone shared her enthusiasm.

With 97 per cent of births taking place in hospitals, it's not surprising her friends had some reservations.

"I think because it's not a regular thing for people to do, and it's not very accessible, so it's not normalised," Casey said.

"I'm thinking, 'Why would you not want to?' You're in your own space… We set up the home birth pool right in front of the fire, which Callum graciously rebuilt just for the birth because that's what I wanted. Then, after you have the baby, you can be on your own lounge, you can be in your own bed, eating your own food."

In the lead-up, Casey's midwife did everything she could to help her feel comfortable. She set up the birth pool, brought an emergency kit and necessary medication and explained how they would transfer her to the hospital if things went pear-shaped.

"Getting ready for a home birth in the last month of pregnancy was really nice. It's a really nice introduction to the finish line, because you can have exactly what you want."

Casey stocked up on supplies — everything from maternity pads and a scarf to candles and fairy lights.

Casey loved having her daughter involved in the birth. Image: Sasha Faint Photography.

The "magical" moment.

For the few days before labour started, Casey felt niggles and knew she was getting close.

Everything was ready and everyone knew their place — even her four-year-old daughter.

"She was a bit scared of whether she would like it, so before the birth, we watched lots of videos… After she'd seen a couple, she didn't want to stop watching them. She was so excited," Casey said.

Once it was time, Callum and Casey woke her up to be there for the "magical" moment.

"I had my beautiful mother-in-law, I had my sister-in-law, we also had our birth photographer, who is also one of our really good friends," Casey said.

Together, they blew up the birth pool and watched it fill as contractions intensified.

"You cannot imagine how slow the birth pool fills up… I'm sitting on the edge of it on my birth ball, watching it fill and fill and fill, and then all of a sudden my waters break. My midwife is standing next to me, and she can see me watching the water rise so slowly and she goes, 'Don't watch the water. I'll tell you when it's ready. You just concentrate on what you're doing.'"

All of a sudden, it was time for Casey to get in.

"The song 'Spirit Bird' was playing by Xavier Rudd. This is a very special song for me, my cousin passed away when I was pregnant with my first baby, and 'Spirit Bird' was like his song. It embodies him," she said.

"As I'm just really sinking into labour and breathing through everything, this is the hardest part right now.

"You feel like you're just internal. Nothing else matters. It's just you and your baby working together to come out of you."

Casey wanted to let her body take control, so she focused on breathing instead of pushing.

"He came out in almost one push and my beautiful midwife, Sarah, pushed him through my legs, and I was able to bring him up out of the water, and I remember when I reached down and saw his face he was so stunned.

"I could see his eyes. They were open, looking at me through the water. And I brought him up, and I expected him to cry, but he didn't. He just kind of looked at me, and I looked at him."

Baby Brodie at one month old. Image: Instagram/@burns.fam

Having her daughter there was the most special part.

"My wish for her, and my wish for all children and all people, is for them to not be afraid of birth. It's a normal life event… And I needed her to know that women are so strong. We are so strong, and what we can do is absolutely incredible."

Casey's first home birth was everything she hoped it would be, and more.

"I would describe my birth as healing, as magical, as calm and absolutely perfect," she said.

Her advice for others considering a home birth is simple: do it.

"Do some research and find a midwife," Casey said.

"When you're having a home birth, it's all about you. It's what you want, and that is the most important thing with home birth."

For more information about homebirths, visit Homebirth Australia.

For more stories from Diary of a Birth click here.

Feature image: Sasha Faint Photography.