Maternity: Giving mums a push towards home birth

Pregnant women are being given more choice on where to have their baby.

A national conference being held in Sheffield on Saturday aims to give more information on having a home birth, including the difficulties women and midwives face, and using birthing pools.

A panel of professionals from the city's healthcare organisations, including community midwives and the head of midwifery, will be on hand to give an overview of the implementation of Maternity Matters and answer questions.

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Kate Laurance, NHS Sheffield's strategy manager for children, young people, and maternity services said: "Maternity Matters is about promoting choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service in Sheffield.

"Four per cent of Sheffield births were delivered at home in 2008, a total of 267 births. Through Maternity Matters we want to promote that home births are an option that more mothers-to-be may wish to choose."

Margaret Kilner from Highfields, Sheffield was 29 when she had a home birth for her first child, Arlo, in May 2009.

She said: "I felt that being in our own home, comfortable, with our own belongings, access to food, private spaces etc would help me to feel relaxed and less frightened.

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"There were benefits to my husband Ian, in that he could play an active part – during home birth there's plenty for birth partners to do.

"Two weeks before my due date, the midwife came to our home and delivered

the equipment that would

be needed on the day, advised us what to do when labour began and what equipment we should provide (towels, a couple of cheap shower curtains, thermometer for the pool), she also confirmed the arrangements for getting the lining for the birth pool.

"We very much wanted to have our baby at home but the most important thing was that the baby was born safely so the possibility of transfer to hospital didn't worry me. I had a bag packed just in case."

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When Margaret went into labour, the community midwife was called. "She was lovely and reassuring, happy that things were going along as they should and so she left, leaving us her mobile number to call her when the contractions became more intense. At about 5am I was ready to call her to come back.

"The pool was great pain relief, mellowed things right down and we put a relaxation CD on. As the morning came, the midwives changed shifts and a lady who had been my midwife throughout my pregnancy arrived.

"Shortly after another midwife was contacted to come and when she arrived we knew the baby was coming soon as there are usually two midwives present for the delivery at a homebirth.

"When the baby was ready to be born I was able to use gas and air to help keep me relaxed and Arlo was born in just a few pushes, and passed straight into my arms by a midwife I'd had the chance

to form a trusting bond with.

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"Within a couple of hours, it was just me, my husband and our baby in our home, with nowhere we had to go to, it was magic, just beautiful.

"I would absolutely recommend home birth and definitely would want to have another one if we are fortunate enough to have another baby."

For more information visit: http://www.sheffield homebirth.org.uk/

conference.aspx