Organising Your Home Birth

Giving Notice
What to Expect from Your Midwife or Hospital
What practical Preparations do I need to make?
Home Birth Support Groups

Giving Notice

Technically you don't have to tell anyone of your intention to home birth until you go into labour. However, for practical and staffing purposes it is a good idea to notify your hospital as soon as you decide this is what you want. You can change your mind at any point, even during labour, deciding on a home birth does not commit you to it, but it allows the hospital to plan their staffing needs around your choice. Often a hospital will not confirm your home birth booking until the end of your pregnancy but many will be happy to organise midwife-led care and some even have home based antenatal appointments for women planning a home birth.

As mentioned, you don't need to see your GP to organise a home birth. If you are at the beginning of your pregnancy you can just write to your local maternity unit. If you are already having maternity care then you can inform your community midwife at your next appointment or use this sample letter.

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What to Expect from Your Midwife or Hospital

Shortly before your due date your community midwife may drop round some equipment for you to store at home – it depends on the policy of your hospital whether she does this or just brings things with her on the day. She will bring all the medical equipment she needs plus gas and air and usually oxygen as well. She may ask you to provide some simple items like a bowl to put the placenta in and a table to put her equipment on. Sometimes your midwife will want to have a talk with you about the risks of home birth and discuss hospital policy on when she would recommend your transfer to hospital. Remember that at all times whatever a hospital's policy might be, it is up to you whether you choose to comply with it.

Some hospitals ask that a member of your household or a friend be available to go and collect more gas and air if it runs out. This is not enforceable and if you can't arrange this, don't worry: they can do what other hospitals do and send a taxi with it. If you have other children you might want to think about who would look after them in the event of a transfer to hospital. It is also worth thinking about who would see to them if they needed drinks, cuddles, the loo or Thomas the Tank Engine videos while you are in labour. Sometimes it is dad who does this, sometimes a friend or relative can be drafted in. If you have a dog who might be distressed or territorial about midwives and the extra noise and disruption of labour then it's also worth thinking through what arrangements you can make.

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What practical preparations do I need to make?

If you are buying or hiring a birthing pool then it's a good idea to do that as soon as you can. You may want to take NCT or other antenatal classes and these usually need to be booked well in advance as they are popular. As the birth approaches you need to think about which room you might want to give birth in. If you are using a birthing pool this may mean you prefer a downstairs room. Remember to leave enough room for your birth partner and midwives! Many women like to build themselves a "nest" of cushions and beanbags and use items like a homeopathy kit, a birth ball or a TENS machine. As long as someone knows where these things are when you ask for them, you don't need to give up part of your house well in advance. You need to think about plastic sheeting and old bed sheets and towels to protect your carpets but they can be laid down on the day, you don't have to cover the whole house. As labour approaches try to remain focussed and positive and avoid anyone who is negative about your plans.

Home Birth Support Group

You might like to find a local home birth support group. Alternatively, there are several online groups and forums which can give you support as you prepare for the arrival of your baby. The online group HomebirthUK and the UKMidwifery group are welcoming to new parents to be. Above all, try to enjoy the calm of the waiting period and try to get into a frame of mind that will allow you to deal with whatever labour brings. However your labour goes, your son or daughter will soon be here and a whole new chapter of your life will begin.

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