Pregnant women can home in on water birth

A new scheme is offering Airedale mothers-to-be the chance to have a more affordable water birth in their own homes.

The community pool scheme, which is run on a not for profit basis, enables pregnant women to hire a birthing pool from a Bradford-based company at a subsided rate.

Airedale Mums, a group of local women campaigning for better maternity services in the area, together with Aquabirths at Home, have raised funds to set up the pilot scheme.

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They are part-funding five uses of the birthing pool in the home and are raising money to help to fund more.

The scheme has secured the backing of community midwives from Airedale Hospital.

Kathryn Walsh, head of midwifery at Airedale Hospital, said: “Water immersion can reduce the need for drugs and intervention in the birth process for women with a low risk, straightforward pregnancy and labour as it helps women to relax.”

The subsidised cost for women is £50, when it would normally cost them £195 to hire a pool.

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Around one to two per cent of all babies in the Airedale area are born at home supported by community midwives.

An increasing number of these mothers are using a birthing pool, although the numbers are still relatively small, according to Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

Women who choose to give birth in the hospital can still use the static birthing pool on the labour ward in Airedale Hospital.

Ruth Weston, of Aquabirths, said: “Our aim is to provide low- cost water births in the home for women, but also make sure they are hassle free for the midwives.

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“We are delighted with how the local mums and staff at Airedale Hospital are working so hard together to provide the best opportunity possible for a lovely birth.”

For more information on home birth or water labour and birth, pregnant women should contact their community midwife.

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