Information for women whose pregnancy is considered low risk 

There are many benefits to having your baby at home:

  • You will have two midwives with you throughout your labour and birth.
  • Your partner(s) can be with you throughout your labour and birth.
  • You can hire a birth pool and labour in water should you choose to.
  • You have access to all pain relief (except for an epidural which must be administered in a hospital setting).
  • You can choose to change your mind and go into hospital at any point.
  • The likelihood of first-time mothers having a vaginal birth is 79.4%*.
  • You are less likely to need a caesarean section as there is an 8%* chance of first-time mothers having this procedure.  

Things to consider if you are having your baby at home:

  • In the relatively unlikely event of a clinical emergency, your midwife will need to transfer you to hospital.
  • For first time mothers there is a slight increased risk of complications compared to having your baby at a birth centre or delivery unit.
  • 45%* of first-time mothers and 12%** for women who have had a baby before transfer to the delivery unit due to their own choice and/or medical recommendations.

Having your baby at a birth centre

Birth centres can either be alongside a hospital midwifery unit (AMU) like Barnet and Heath birth centres at the Royal Free London or a freestanding midwifery unit (FMU) like Edgware Birth Centre.

  • The benefits of choosing to have your baby at a birth centre are as follows:  
  • There are midwives available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  
  • First-time mothers have an increased chance of a vaginal birth in an AMU of 77%* and 81%* in an FMU.
  • You are less likely to have an instrumental birth than if you choose to give birth in an obstetric unit (labour ward).
  • Only 7%* of women go on to have a caesarean section.
  • You will have access to ensuite rooms and birth pools.   

Things to consider if you choose to have your baby in a birth centre

If you change your mind on where you would like to labour and/or give birth, or you require additional clinical support, your midwife will need to transfer you to the delivery unit in the hospital.

Approximately 40%* of first-time mothers are transferred from AMU and approximately 36%* of first-time mothers labouring in an FMU. The transfer rate for women who have had a baby before drops significantly with only 13%** transferring from AMUs and 12%** from an FMU.

More benefits of choosing to have your baby at home or in a birth centre

  • You are more likely to remain mobile in labour, which can help your labour progress well and your baby to be born more easily.
  • You will feel more relaxed and comfortable in either environment.
  • Your birth partner(s) can play a bigger, more supportive role and be present throughout your labour.
  • You can have any form of pain relief except for an epidural which can only be given in a hospital setting.  
  • Women who birth at home or in a birth centre report feeling more positive about their birth experience and more supported by their midwives.
  • More mothers are able to breastfeed successfully after giving birth at home or in a birth centre.
  • You can give birth in a pool which is an effective form of natural pain relief.

References

*Your choice where to have your baby. Information for healthy, low-risk women having their first baby. NHSE: London; May 2018

**Your choice where to have your baby. Information for healthy, low-risk women who have had a baby before. NHSE: London; May 2018