Taking the choice of a home birth

Kay, who was studying for an archaeology degree in Sheffield, had watched her mum deliver her younger brothers at home and, even for her first baby, there was no contest.

A couple of years later Fay gave birth to her second child at home without a hitch and earlier this year she achieved what only one other woman in Sheffield has done in recent times - she gave birth to twins at home.

"My consultant warned against it," recalled 25-year-old Fay, one tot strapped to her waist, the other in a double buggy.

"He didn't say 'your babies are going to die' but he did say there are lots of cases each year where things go wrong.

"We thought very carefully about it and sought expert advice but at the end of the day I didn't want to go into hospital, particularly as they induce you to get the second twin moving. I didn't want the continual foetal monitoring either.

"I had a hospital appointment on the day they were born and could feel labour starting when I was at the hospital.

"But I managed to hold on and get home in time and I had the twins there.

"My partner, three midwives, my mum and a friend who is an independent midwife were there."

Fay's labour took eight hours with gas and air. "It was a wonderful experience," she added.

Michelle Barnes, 27, runs Sheffield Homebirth Group, a support group for women seeking homebirths or advice over birth options.

"It can be very difficult for some women to get a homebirth and it very much depends on where you live," explained Michelle, a civil servant from Intake, Sheffield.

"I planned a normal birth with my first child Michael but I just got swept along and ended up having an emergency Caesarean section under general anaesthetic.

"I'll always regret not being awake for his birth and not being the first to hold him.

"When I got pregnant the second time I wanted a home birth but I met a lot of opposition from the hospital who were worried about my previous Caesarean section.

"I was determined to give birth at home and realised I needed an independent midwife."

Michelle and her husband paid 2,500 for an independent midwife who operates outside the NHS.

She looked after Michelle ante-natally, throughout the labour and post-natally for six weeks.

"We bought a birthing pool off the internet and set it up in the living room. Michael went to my parents and my husband was very much involved which put him at ease.

"The midwife Anne Adamson, who's from Malton, North Yorkshire, came for three hours a day at first and helped me establish breastfeeding. It was worth every penny and was an investment in Blake's well-being."

Mum-of-four Christine Horner was possibly the first mum in recent times to have twins at home.

Four years ago she gave birth to Erin and Rosie at her then home in Bradway.

Her husband and an independent midwife helped deliver the twins after a difference of opinion with NHS clinicians.

"The obstetricians seemed to have a set routine and didn't want to deviate from that.

"I was certain I didn't want to have them in hospital but I was being told I had to.

"I knew I was very sensitive to the environment and other people being in the room and that was what it would have been like at hospital. I didn't want to be stuck on my back with a drip in my arm.

"Giving birth is a normal part of life and of being a woman – our bodies are designed to do it so why complicate such a natural process?"A fantastic experience the second time around for Harriet

MORE and more second time mums are opting for home births after a negative experience when delivering their first child.

Harriet Hunt, aged 30, gave birth two-and-a-half years ago to daughter Bella in hospital.

"The experience was not particularly pleasant," recalls Harriet, who works for Citizens Advice Bureau and lives in Heeley with her husband.

"Bella's dad had to go home after she was born and it felt like we were being split up. My husband was upset about that and it was just horrible.

"That was as good a reason as any to stay at home the second time round."

Harriet gave birth to son Freddy in August with just her husband and an NHS midwife present.

"It was a fantastic experience and I would recommend it to any woman who is thinking about homebirth.

"It's not right for every woman but I'd say get as much information as possible and talk to as many women as possible before you make your choice.

"The Sheffield Homebirth Group is fantastic and the mums are really supportive.

"They'll help you feel more confident – they did me.

"I work for the CAB and part of my job is talking to doctors but even so I found the whole homebirth versus hospital birth debate hard. The doctors mean well and want what's best but you've got to follow your female intuition."

Sheffield Homebirth Group formed last November so women can pass on their knowledge and experiences. Members meet once a month and the group has a Yahoo chat forum. Visit http://health.groups.yahoo.com/ group/SheffieldHomeBirth or visit www.homebirth.org.uk for more general information.

Meanwhile Sheffield Homebirth Conference - 'Making Women the Focus of Maternity Care' takes place on March 29 2008.

The parents and health professionals conference includes respected speakers Professor Mavis Kirkham, Sheffield Hallam University; Nadine Edwards, Vice Chair of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services; Jane Evans, Independent Midwife; Pam Dorling, retired NHS Midwife from Sheffield; Wendy Davis, NHS Midwife from Sheffield; plus others.

Tickets are not yet available to purchase but you can reserve a place by emailing Olivia Lester at [email protected] or telephone 0114 2678 948.THE SHEFFIELD SERVICE

THE NHS midwifery service in Sheffield has come on leaps and bounds in the past year, says Lynn Longmuir, matron for the Community Midwifery Service

"We've developed an information leaflet for mums-to-be which outlines their different choices and the potential risks and benefits of each type of birth," explained Lynn, who wants all women to understand their birth options.

"All women who are at a low risk of developing complications during their pregnancy or birth are offered home birth as an option.

"We are introducing new patient records for mums-to-be, which require midwives to confirm that a home birth has been offered as an option to all women at a low risk of complications.

"Women are also offered the choice of having their baby in hospital; either in a traditional setting or in our dedicated midwifery-led care unit, which promotes natural childbirth and provides a low technology environment. The environment is especially important for those women who may consider a home birth but do not feel confident enough."

Lynn said women who are at a higher risk of complications, such as those with other medical conditions or those who have experienced complications in previous births, are still supported in their choices.

In addition, to enable greater choice, clinicians identify potential risks so that the required level of support can be provided

The out-of-hours midwifery service has also been improved to provide more personalised care. Previously, two out-of-hours midwifery teams operated in the north and south of the city, which meant that women giving birth at night could have received care from any of a large number of midwives.

Now the service has been re-aligned to work in smaller teams of up to seven midwives within seven "service districts" across the city.