Why choose a homebirth?

The first question prospective parents ask me is ‘why should I have my baby at home’. This is such a personal decision, and each woman and her family have their own unique circumstances and beliefs. My job is to provide up-to-date information based on the latest research, so that women feel able to make a well-informed decision about place of birth. Knowledge is power!

I had my own two babies at home, I was nervous about hospitals and feeling out of control over what was happening to me. Each woman has her own reasons for choosing to birth at home, some want to be comfortable in their own environment, others want to avoid interventions that may slow the labour. Some have concerns about medications crossing the placenta to the baby and affecting baby’s wellbeing at birth and ability to breastfeed. The main concern that parents have when making this decision, is how safe it is.

Research in the UK Birthplace study shows that low-risk women overall have good outcomes when they choose to give birth at home. First time mothers have a slightly increased risk of a poor outcome, but the overall risks are still extremely small. If you plan to give birth in hospital, you are more likely to have an instrumental delivery (vacuum or forceps) or a cesarean section. Even if you transfer to hospital from a planned home birth, you are still more likely to have a normal birth with fewer interventions.

You will get to know your self-employed community midwife well through the antenatal period, and will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns about the pregnancy as well as plans for the birth in detail.   She will be on-call for the 3 weeks before and up to 2 weeks after your due date, and you will be in regular communication once you feel things are beginning to happen. She will support you during the labour, ensuring everything is normal with both you and the baby and will assist with the birth of the baby. She will stay to make sure everything is fine afterwards. In the postnatal period she will call out to you for 14 days, or sometimes longer, and will provide help with feeding and advice around caring for your new baby.

There are many advantages to a home birth, the first is continuity of care, you will know the midwife who is going to be attending the birth, and you will be in your own environment, Both these factors will allow you to feel more relaxed. Relaxation is crucial to labour as it allows the labour hormone oxytocin to be released, which encourages regular strong contractions. You have a good chance of having a birth without any medication, and you will be able to remain upright and mobile during labour, which will mean the labour will be quicker, and you are more likely to give birth without needing the assistance of a doctor. If you choose, you can labour and birth in a birth pool. Your baby will be born into a peaceful and calm atmosphere, followed by skin to skin, and early breastfeeding if that is your preference. After the birth, you can climb into your own bed with your new baby and your partner, which is a wonderful feeling.

The moment of your baby’s birth is an amazing transformation that you will always remember, however and wherever it happens. Birth is a journey, and despite our best plans sometimes ends up going in a different direction. Choosing a home birth does not always mean giving birth at home, but if you do transfer into the hospital for any reason, your community midwife will come with you and support you in the hospital. We have good relationships with the midwives on delivery suite, and they are very respectful of the women on the home birth scheme.

There are some useful Home Birth Links for you to have a look at, if you would like any further information, feel free to contact me with any questions. It’s a big decision, and I am always happy to meet you and your partner, and discuss the pros and cons to help you decide, without any commitment to sign up!