Home birth

Maternity services

We provide a home birth service for women living within our catchment area. 

Giving birth at home is something you can choose if you have an uncomplicated pregnancy and would prefer to have your baby at home. You will receive antenatal (pre-birth) care from our home birth midwives who also provide a 24-hour service to support you during your labour.

If you decide to have a home birth our midwives will come to your home to look after you during labour until your baby is born.

Why might I consider a home birth?

You believe having a baby is a natural process and you have confidence in your body’s ability to give birth
You would like to labour and give birth in a familiar and private setting
You would prefer to avoid having medical interventions
You would like to develop a connection with your midwives before the birth
You and your partner want to start your family life together at home, or perhaps you would like to have your other children or wider family nearby for the birth

If you are thinking about this, please let your midwife know as soon as possible. They will refer you to the home birth team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens once I’ve chosen a home birth?

If you plan a home birth, you will have some of your antenatal appointments with the team of midwives who will be looking after you in labour. They will get to know you during your pregnancy and will also look after you in the days following the birth of your baby.

Is a home birth safe?

If you are healthy and having a straightforward pregnancy with your first baby, planning to have your baby at home is slightly less safe for your baby than planning a hospital birth. However, you are also more likely to have a natural birth and less likely to have medical interventions such as an episiotomy, a caesarean or instrumental birth and a blood transfusion.

If you are healthy and having a straightforward pregnancy with your second or more baby, planning to have your baby at home is particularly suitable for you. It is as safe for your baby as planning to give birth in the labour ward and you are also more likely to have a natural birth and less likely to have medical interventions such as an episiotomy, an instrumental birth, a caesarean birth or a blood transfusion.

If you are at increased risk of complications, your midwife is most likely to advise that you have your baby in the labour ward where you and the baby can be more closely monitored, rather than at home.

If there are complications during your labour and birth and you need to see a doctor, or you need additional pain relief such as an epidural, you will be transferred to the labour ward. This will require a journey by road, usually in an ambulance.

About 450 out of 1000 women will be transferred from home to hospital with a first baby and about 115 women out of 1000 will be transferred with a second or subsequent baby. The midwife caring for you at home will go with you to the labour ward and provide a handover of care. Once you have been transferred, your postnatal care will be on the postnatal ward until you are at home again.

If you have any further questions, speak to your midwife first, who will then refer you to the appropriate team.

For more information, and to read the experiences of mothers who have had their babies at home, visit our Instagram page and watch our home birth question and answer video.

Register with our maternity services