How to chose where you have your baby

Birth planning is a continuous part of antenatal care. This requires a focussed discussion about place of birth, at which women should receive clear, unbiased advice and be able to choose where they would like their baby to be born. Wouldn’t it be great if you were asked “Would you like to have your own midwife to attend you birth?”

Here at UK Birth Centres we pride ourselves on offering true choice for women, along with the opportunity for them to have their own midwife with them throughout their entire pregnancy, birth and post-natal period.

The recent Birthplace in England study (Birthplace in England Collaborative Group 2011) looked at safety of births planned in 4 different settings:

1.      Home.

2.      Freestanding midwifery units

3.      Alongside midwifery units

4.      Obstetric units.

For women with straightforward pregnancies it found that birth is safe wherever it takes place.

Trials have demonstrated the benefits to women of choosing home or midwifery led units as there is less intervention and more mobility.

The philosophy behind the provision of Midwifery led units is to provide a ‘homely’ environment, where women can take more control and labour is managed with minimal intervention. This helps the hormones of labour to work properly.

It has also been found that women who give birth at home or birth centres, require less analgesia, augmentation and operative delivery, as well as greater satisfaction with care.

Where you choose to have your baby will also influence who you get as your care giver. At UK Birth Centres we have wonderful compassionate and enthusiastic midwives caring for you, helping you feel relaxed and at ease.

Why is this important?

Our body has an adaption that stops labour from progressing if we are stressed scared and do not feel safe. Contractions will still happen but will not be effective and as a result labour becomes long and painful. That is why giving birth at home surrounded by your familiar things helps you to feel safe, this helps labour to be less painful and shorter.

Having your own familiar midwife such as we provide at UK Birth centres will help prepare you for birth and we stay with you throughout labour, helping you feel much calmer and thus making birth better for you !

Call today 0800 3800 579.