If you’re enjoying a safe, straightforward pregnancy, you may want to consider giving birth at home.
To ensure the safety of you and your baby it is advisable that you:
- You are expecting only one baby
- Your baby is lying head down (cephalic presentation)
- You go into labour between 37 weeks and 41 weeks plus five days of the pregnancy (spontaneous onset of labour)
- Have had less than five previous pregnancies
- Have no medical problems or concerns
- Have had no problems with this or previous pregnancies
- Have good help and support from your family and friends
- Have a home that is safe to deliver in
Benefits of a home birth
Giving birth in familiar surroundings where you can feel more relaxed
You can choose who is present during and after the birth
It encourages freedom and comfort
You will be more in control of your delivery
You do not have to worry about when to go to hospital, or how to get there
Research has show that those who have a home birth are less likely to need pain relief
Your hormones work more effectively in a relaxed, natural and familiar environment
Although rare, complications can happen. If any complications develop during your labour or delivery you may need to be transferred to hospital.
What plans will be made for a home birth
Your midwife will discuss this as part of your birth plan and will:
Visit you around the 36th week of your pregnancy to develop your plan of care and to prepare both you, your family and home for your labour and delivery
Arrange delivery of equipment to your home, for example, a delivery pack and entonox (gas and air)
Discuss the types of pain relief available and how you can get a prescription for diamorphine, if needed
Your midwife will advise you on the safe storage of any medication
Who will deliver my baby?
There will be two midwives at your delivery, however we cannot guarantee you will know them.
Our midwives will monitor the wellbeing of both you and baby throughout the labour and delivery.
How to book a home birth
Your community midwife will visit you at home to discuss this. If you do not meet the above criteria and still wish to have a home birth we will continue to support your choice.
A professional midwifery advocate will contact you further to discuss your options.