This is a monthly session aimed at anyone thinking about, hoping for, or planning for a home birth. It is even for those who may have been told they 'can't' or shouldn't have a home birth, as we will explore many of the curve balls that can arise in pregnancy which may jeopardise your plans from a medical perspective. We aim to look in greater detail at what some of the risks and benefits might be, whether you choose to birth at home or in hospital.   

The purpose of this group is NOT to try to persuade everybody to have a home birth no matter what; sometimes birth is better off in a hospital setting and for good reason. It is up to each mother and her partner at the end of the day to determine their own comfortable level of risk around their birth choices, for no birth is without 'risk'. 

The purpose of this group IS to provide information and sources of evidence based information so that you as parents can be fully informed to make your own decisions. It is to provide a space to ask questions, to learn from other parents, and to explore the hopes and the fears that all parents feel when planning for birth. The purpose of this group is also to create community around expectant parents and to normalise the concept of birthing in your own home.

Each session will be tailored to the group on the day, so we will be discussing topics that are relevant to you and your pregnancy and to the others in the group. It is suitable to attend from the beginning of pregnancy right up until the end! We will have a break half way through and tea, coffee and snacks will be provided!

Here are some of the topics I expect to cover in the sessions:   

- Practicalities of home birth

- Safety in Birth

- Water birth

- Informed consent and choice

- Medical reasons that home birth is not advised: previous haemorrhage, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, 'big' baby/'small' baby, previous shoulder dystocia, high blood pressure, previous caesarean section, group b strep, etc

- Role of the birth partner(s)

- Physical and mental preparations: diet, movement, hypnobirthing etc

- Basic needs of the woman in labour

- Pain and Pleasure in labour

- Siblings in the birth space

- Birthing the placenta and things you can do with it afterwards - Postpartum care at home

and more…!