How do I arrange a home birth?

You can book a home birth through your local midwives or your family doctor or privately through an independent midwife.

Booking through your GP

Many women book home births through their GP surgery with no problems, but some family doctors try to dissuade their patients. This may be because of their personal views about risk in childbirth, or because they mistakenly believe that they have to attend the home birth themselves. You might also find our articles on safety and FAQs on home birth useful in talking through your decision to have a home birth with your GP and/or family or friends who might feel uncertain about your decision.

Booking through your midwife

You can also book your antenatal care directly via a midwife; and there are a number of ways you can contact a midwife directly. You can ask in your GP’s surgery if a midwife works from the surgery. If she does, then you can ask to see her directly. If a midwife does not work from the surgery then the staff may know where a midwife does work and be able to refer you. Alternatively, if you have a health centre or children’s centre near you then you can ask if a midwife works from there.

You can also write to the Head of Midwifery at your local hospital and ask to be put in touch with a midwife. When you have your first antenatal check with your midwife she should discuss your preferences for care during pregnancy as well as where you might choose to give birth.

If you would like some guidance on talking to your family doctor or midwife to help gain their support for your decision, you can contact NCT on 0300 330 0700.

Going private

Independent midwives offer a private alternative for those who can afford their fees. They are fully qualified midwives who specialise in home births, and many women have found their support invaluable. They will accompany you to an NHS hospital if you need to transfer. Contact Independent Midwives UK to search for a midwife by name or postcode.

Your decision

In deciding where to give birth, you may find the results of the Birthplace Study 2011 from the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) useful. The results provide parents with detailed, up-to-date information about the four different places for planning birth. (The results are specific to England). The study compares planning to use a ‘midwifery unit’ or birth centre with planning a hospital birth. It also compares planning to have a home birth with planning for a hospital birth.

The main focus of the study is outcomes for women who are ‘low risk’, i.e. those who are healthy, with a straightforward pregnancy, no previous obstetric complications that might affect this pregnancy. The study finds that there are positive reasons for considering planning to use a birth centre or to have a home birth.

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.

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. 

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