When it comes to birthing, in an ideal world we would all have the option to birth where we want to birth and with the continuity of a known midwife who we have a solid relationship with. In reality this is unfortunately not the case. We have an amazing maternity unit here in The Great Southern with beautiful caring midwives and great doctors. But what we unfortunately do not have is the guarantee of a midwife we know and we certainly do not have the option to choose where we birth. Maybe one day this will change but for now the only way to help a woman to achieve this during her pregnancy, birth and postnatal period is with the care of a private midwife.

So …. what does the evidence show

• Home birth for low risk women is as safe for babies and their mothers as birthing in hospital

• A more positive experience of pain during child birth

• Hugely improved breastfeeding outcomesLess likely to suffer 3rd or 4th degree perineal tear

• Less likely to have a postpartum haemorrhage

• Less anxiety around child birth

• Significantly lower odds of babies being admitted to special care unit

• Lower chance of postnatal depression