How to arrange a home birth

Once your GP knows you are pregnant he or she will then arrange a booking appointment. This usually takes place around 12 weeks but may vary around the country.You're most likely to see your Community midwife at your booking in appointment and she is the person who would normally attend a home birth, so this is the perfect opportunity to discuss your wishes.

Alternatively you can book a home birth direct with the Supervisor of Midwives at your local hospital. Simply call the hospital switchboard and ask for an address to write to her or to be put through to her.

You do not need the permission of your family doctor to arrange a home birth and you do not even need to discuss it with him or her.

It is important to remember that you have the right to choose to have your baby at home and that midwives are qualified to attend a mother at home. You can make arrangements directly with the midwife, and it is generally midwives who provide most or all of your care. Remember:

• Arranging a home birth may require assertiveness and a great deal of stamina
• Some women encounter opposition or even hostility to their plans from health professionals, and a worried response from friends and family
• It helps if you have gathered some important facts in support of home birth to counter the arguments you will hear
• Emotional support is important too; it helps greatly to have a friend and ally who shares your feelings about birth

For a hassle-free way to have a home birth you could enlist the services of an independent midwife as they tend to specialise in home birth and fully support them, but you have to pay for their services. Contact the Association of Independent Midwives for a list.

If you are having problems booking a home birth you want, contact the Association for Improvements in Maternity Services (AIMS) for support and information about your choices and rights. Read more about your rights to a home birth here.

You'll also find it useful talking with other parents who have had home births. We have a very active Home Birth forum with a moderator who has had homebirths herself.