Having a Baby at Home

Consider the following questions:

Can you have a domino delivery? This means that the community midwife comes to your home and stays with you until she thinks it is time to go to hospital. She then takes you to hospital, delivers the baby and takes you home a few hours after the birth. She will continue to visit you at home. Will you have the chance to meet the midwives who are likely to deliver the baby? Most hospitals operate a team midwifery system for antenatal, delivery and postnatal care. This means that the same midwives look after you before, during and after the birth.

• If you prefer a woman doctor, will it always be possible to see one?
• Can your birth companion be with you at all times if that is what you want?
• Can you talk over your birth choices and have a record of them put in your notes?
• Will you be able to move around in labor and is there a variety of equipment so that you can give birth in the position that you find comfortable? Can you use a water pool during labor if that is what you would like?
• Do you have a choice in the way your baby is monitored?
• HOW long might you be expected to stay in hospital after the birth (you can discharge yourself whenever you wish, but it may help to know the average length of stay)?
• Is there good breastfeeding support?
• What are the visiting hours?
• Will there be a chance to talk about the birth afterwards with the midwife who delivered your baby and ask any questions about the birth?

You can arrange for a home birth through your GP, or via your local community midwives. Many GPs are reluctant to support first-time mothers in having a home birth, because there is no way of telling how difficult a birth is going to be (your experience the first time gives some indication of the ease with which you will give birth subsequently). However, if you have young children at home already and do not wish to disrupt them, or feel that the birth will be more relaxed at home, you may decide that this is for you. You have the right to a home birth if that is what you want.

Your GP may be able to offer you antenatal care. If not, contact your local FHSA for the address of a GP who has an interest in childbirth_ And contact your local supervisor of midwives who still arrange your antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care.

You will see the community midwife for all your antenatal checks, and she is the one to call when you think your labor has started. She will stay with you through labor and, perhaps with another midwife, deliver the baby. She will call a doctor or ambulance if you need to get to hospital in an emergency.