Home Birth Articles
Antenatal Screening Tests and Scans in Pregnancy
Antenatal Care – what’s it all about? The main point of antenatal care is to check that you and the baby are well throughout pregnancy. The choice of tests on offer can be quite bewildering to a newly pregnant mum. Here we explain what most hospitals will usually offer you, though there can be more tests if there is concern about you or your baby’s wellbeing. It is for you to decide which of the Read more…
Why Choose to Have Your Baby at Home?
Why Choose to have your baby at home? Why Not? It was not that long ago when most women had their babies at home, without any choice. Birthing in hospital was reserved for pregnant women who were ill or had complications. However since then, giving birth in hospital had become the “norm”, although research suggests having a baby at home is a safe if not safer than in hospital if there are no known risk Read more…
Antenatal Birth Preparation Classes and Courses
Birth Preparation Classes or Antenatal Classes? Here we try to answer some of the questions that many parents-to-be may have been thinking about before they book a place on a set of classes. What are the classes about exactly? Is there any difference between the two? What will I learn? Will it be useful to go or will I be bored? Will it help me in labour? Will my partner enjoy it or will he Read more…
Birth at Home – One Woman’s Story
My labour started early one cold January morning. I woke up with a strange feeling low in my abdomen. It was the day my baby was due and I remember going to sleep thinking perhaps tomorrow would be the day. Everyone knows only 5% of babies are born on their due date, but I still could not help hoping. As it was our first baby, I was very excited. My labour started early one cold Read more…
Why Labour in Water?
It is a well recognised fact being up right and mobile in labour aids the baby progress though the mother’s pelvis. But why should using water in labour be so beneficial? Well! Immersing your body in warm water is relaxing. Just remember how wonderful it feels to lay back in a deep, warm, scented bath after a long, strenuous day’s activities. Research has shown that using a birthing pool for labour helps you to relax Read more…
One Woman – One Midwife
Research has shown that women supported in labour by a midwife they know and trust are likely to experience less pain in labour and require fewer drugs, and are more likely to have a normal birth and a positive birth experience than other women. The Government recognise that the gold standard for labouring women is one midwife to one woman. Unfortunately, in today’s financial climate, with the NHS facing even more constraints, one midwife to Read more…
Guaranteed One to One Care in Labour
Guaranteed One to One Midwifery Care Research has shown that women supported in labour by a midwife they know and trust are likely to experience less pain in labour and require fewer drugs, and are more likely to have a positive natural birth experience than other women. Having a baby is one of the most important life changing events in a woman’s life. Something so important deserves the best support possible. Independent midwives have the Read more…