‘I almost died’: Willaston mum lucky to be alive after traumatic homebirth

A Willaston mum tells how she almost died giving birth on her bedroom floor in under 45 minutes.

The baby was coming too fast. That’s when Samantha Pirch knew she wasn’t going to make it to the hospital to give birth to her baby.

After just three big contractions, the 35-year-old found herself delivering her own baby – in the bedroom of her home in Willaston as her husband Lee watched on in shock.

“It was next level. After the first contraction, I thought that feels strange because it didn’t feel like the other one. And then I stepped forward and felt her head come out and I dropped to the ground,” Mrs Pirch said.

Giving birth at home hadn’t been on the birth plan for the now mum-of-two.

But as she cradled her daughter, Peyton, she was surprised by how quickly it had all happened.

“It took maybe about 45 minutes from the contractions and then she just pushed herself out,” Mrs Pirch said.

Samantha Pirch almost died giving birth to her daughter Peyton on her bedroom floor. Picture Dean Martin

Samantha Pirch with husband Lee, daughters Peyton and Eleanor, 5. Picture Dean Martin

“I didn’t push or anything, I was just sitting at the end of the bed.”

It wasn’t long before the midwife and emergency services were at her home, checking over mum and baby, and giving them the all clear – until it came to birthing the placenta.

Suddenly, Mrs Pirch started to lose a lot blood.

“The midwife delivered the placenta and pushed on my stomach and I felt a massive gush come out,” she said.

“I thought it might have been amniotic fluid, I asked the midwife and she said it was all blood.”

With the blood still coming, and Mrs Pirch dropping in and out of consciousness, she was quickly taken by ambulance to Gawler Hospital.

In total, she would lose a staggering three litres of blood and would need four bags of blood in a blood transfusion to recover.

“It was pretty full on and we’re all very lucky that I’m alive,” she said.

Despite suddenly giving birth and almost losing her life, Mrs Pirch said she felt no pain.

“I think my adrenaline kicked it and I just didn’t feel anything,” she said.

But at the hospital, once she and Peyton were recovering, the trauma of the birth sunk in.

“When she came out it was just adrenaline, I had this baby, I had given birth but it didn’t process until I was sat alone in the hospital,” she said.

“It really hit home … it mentally scarred me for a while, it was scary.

“You see in movies about people dying when giving birth and you think it will never happen to me, but I was the unlucky one that it almost happened to.”

Samantha Pirch with daughters Peyton and Eleanor, 5, at their home in Willaston. Picture Dean Martin

Peyton Pirch has been entered in The Advertiser's 2023 cutest baby competition. Picture: Supplied

Mr Pirch also confessed that during the birth, which took place in April this year, he didn’t realise he could have lost his wife.

“The ambos didn’t want to raise too much concern, they quietly talked between one another, but I also felt like they weren’t hiding anything,” he said.

“It wasn’t until afterwards that I thought wow, that was pretty crazy.”

Due to her traumatic birth, the couple have been advised not to have any more children.

“It’s too high risk, but we’re not doing it anyway. I’m done,” Mrs Pirch said.

Twelve weeks later, the now family of four have found joy from what came out of a traumatic night.

“We’re all very happy, we all absolutely adore her,” Mr Pirch said.

Peyton has been entered into The Advertiser’s 2023 cutest baby competition, nominations close on July 25.

Originally published as ‘I almost died’: Willaston mum lucky to be alive after traumatic homebirth