Care of older children at a home birth

Some women planning a home birth arrange for their children to be cared for elsewhere by a friend when they go into labour. Others are happy to keep them at home. The choice depends on you, what support you have available, and the time of day you go into labour.

Think about different plans depending on whether you need help looking after other children during the day or at night. If you did have to go to hospital, who would be able to stay with the other child/ren?

If your children will be staying put, try to have somebody there just for them, so that your birth partner can concentrate on supporting you. Tell your children what noises they might hear, and what they might see if they come into the birth room. Think of specific activities that someone helping look after them can do while you’re in labour.

Feeling included

One way of helping other children feel included is to involve them in drawing pictures leading up to the birth or making a 'welcome' card for the new baby. You could look at books or videos about birth together (see Further information below).

Some parents-to-be organise a special gift for their older child ‘from the baby'. Older children may feel very important after a home birth if they are allowed to sit down and hold the new baby.

Generally a home-birth environment is much more welcoming to older children than a hospital ward.

Some women employ a doula to provide support at the birth, and this may include looking after other children.

Further information

The results of the Birthplace study were released in December 2011 and provide useful information for parents about their choice of place of birth.

NCT's helpline offers practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: 0300 330 0700. We also offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about birth, labour and life with a new baby. Other NCT resources include:

• ‘Homebirth All you need to know’ leaflet available from NCT shop.
• ‘Mums the Word’ DVD available from NCT shop.
• 'Daddy Cool' DVD available from NCT shop.
• NCT's shared experiences register, which enables mothers to talk to other women who have had similar experiences. Call 0300 330 0770 or email enquiries@nct.org.uk.
• Local NCT homebirth support groups. Call 0300 330 0770 or email enquiries@nct.org.uk.
• Hello Baby by Jenni Overend available from NCT shop.

If you would like to read more about the evidence on the safety and other advantages and disadvantages of home birth, the following are good resources:

The Home Birth Reference Site provides information and opinions about home birth, for parents who think that it might be the right choice for them, and for health professionals looking for resources. The site also provides information from parents about how their children handled home birth.

BirthChoiceUK provides information on choosing maternity care to help parents make the right choice for them.

• MIDIRS and NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (1999), Place of Birth.
• Rediscovering birth by Sheila Kitzinger
• Birth your way by Sheila Kitzinger
• Home birth: A practical guide by Nicky Wesson
• Choosing a home birth by Beverley Lawrence Beech
• Midwives and home birth, MC Circular 8/2006