At booking you midwife will explain choices for place of birth. If you are healthy with no complications and having low risk care, you could consider a homebirth. Giving birth at home is a safe option for many women and birthing people who have experienced an uncomplicated pregnancy and, in particular, who have had a previous normal vaginal birth and who do not have any medical problems. If your pregnancy is high risk and you are considering a homebirth, please discuss this with your midwife so you can both explore your options.
Our priority is to provide safe, supportive, and evidence-based midwifery care if you choose to give birth to your baby at home.
There are a few advantages of giving birth at home which include the following:
- Giving birth in your own familiar surroundings where you may feel more relaxed and able to cope. This can help the progress of your labour
- Some research has suggested that those who birth at home use less pain relief which may relate to feeling more relaxed and able to cope.
- You don't have to interrupt your labour to go to hospital
- You will not need to leave your other children or other close family
- You will not have to be separated from your partner after the birth
- Homebirth has been shown to reduce the likelihood of interventions such as instrumental delivery (ventouse and forceps) in healthy pregnancies and increase the chance of a normal vaginal birth
If you would like to look at the evidence for the safety of birth at home please see the Birth Place Study (NPEU 2011).
Monthly homebirth workshops take place to prepare women and birthing people for what to expect when planning to birth at home. Birth partners are also encouraged to attend this workshop. Please speak to your midwife for more information.
If you are pregnant and need information about home births, or any other non-urgent issue relating to your pregnancy, your health after giving birth or the health of your newborn baby, please call your community hub telephone number:
County Women’s Health Centre and County Community Midwifery
Telephone 01785 230059
Newcastle Team based at Bradwell Community Midwifery Hub
Telephone 0300 123 0905
Central Team Community Midwifery Hub based at Thomas Boughey Centre
Telephone 01782 233582
South Team Community Midwifery Hub based at Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre
Telephone 01782 231822
North team Community Midwifery Hub based at Chell Heath Childrens Centre
Telephone 01782 231152
Thank you for your understanding and support.
