Here at the UK Birth Centres we are always looking to support women’s choice. We have a holistic approach, which puts the focus on each woman as an individual. We know that by keying in to what will help them feel relaxed and more confident when it comes to giving birth is certainly worth pursuing and it is why many of our clients choose a home birth.

Have you been following the media storm that has arisen out of the publication by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, of draft guidelines surrounding where you should choose to give birth. The Birth Place study (Birthplace 2011; Blix et al 2012) showed that for low-risk woman who had had a baby before having an out of Hospital birth would be as safe if not safer.

It was this finding that caused a lot of controversy in the press as many people just do not feel that home is their comfort zone when it comes to giving birth.

Beverley Turner in her article published in the Telegraph (13.5.14.) rather amusingly summed up the findings,

“Well ladies, we’re sorry that you’ve suffered the indignity of 70 years of hospital births, it looks like you shoulda’ stayed at home after all. You no longer have to stand the heat of the labour ward, get back to the kitchen.” Or the lounge, or your bedroom, or the back garden – or indeed, a simple midwifery-led birth centre – because, as Cathy Warwick, Head of the Royal College of Midwives says, having a baby at these locations is as “safe; indeed may be safer than hospital.”

Here at UK Birth Centres the emphasis is on what women want and making sure that they feel supported and relaxed. Due to the unique collaboration we are forging with the NHS and the formation of a network of Birth Centres across the UK, we are in a wonderful position to offer the best of all worlds. We will provide you with your own midwife who will give you continuity of care throughout your pregnancy, making sure you feel listened to, supported and more confident about birth.

When you go into labour and you want a hospital birth, your midwife will come to your home and stay with you helping your labour to progress well by reducing fear and tension and will come to Hospital with you at the right time. Tension causes pain. Tension stops your natural pain-killing endorphins from flowing and causes adrenalin to be released, which puts the breaks on labour progress so having your own midwife with you throughout and especially when you reach Hospital will allow the birth process to proceed well!

So here at the UK Birth Centres the debate need not be about home versus Hospital, because you will have your own midwife with you in whatever setting suits you.