RFL610 Choosing where to have your baby

Choosing where to have your baby

Information for women whose pregnancy is considered low risk

Having your baby at home

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.
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

More information

For more information about maternity services at the Royal Free London, please visit our website: www.royalfree.nhs.uk/services/services-a-z/maternity-services/

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