Having your baby at home
Are you thinking of having your baby at home in your own relaxed and familiar environment?
In Leeds we have a dedicated team of experienced homebirth midwives who are able to provide care during labour and birth at home.
Research suggests that having your baby at home can increase the chances of having a normal birth and reduce the risks of intervention in birth, such as caesarean section, assisted delivery, episiotomy and the need for medicinal pain relief (Birthplace study, 2011).
Women who have their babies at home are more likely to birth in water and report higher levels of birth satisfaction.
A study of 28,000 women has shown a significant rise in breastfeeding rates when babies are born at home (Quigley et al, 2016).
Having your baby at home means you are more likely to have met the midwife who cares for you in labour at an appointment through your pregnancy. There are no restrictions on family and friends being present in your home to support you.
If you would like to speak to a midwife in the Homebirth Team please email them: leedsth-tr.homebirth@nhs.net with your name and telephone number and they will give you a call.
You can also SELF REFER to the team by email to: leedsth-tr.homebirth@nhs.net providing your full name, address, telephone number, date of birth, NHS number, GP, number of previous pregnancies (if any), and your estimated due date. The team will respond to your email within 5 working days.
For information about the team, check out our Meet the Team page or watch the video below:
If you decide to have your baby at home, a member of the Homebirth Team will visit you at home to discuss the antenatal care pathway and your wishes for your birth.
What some women have said about their births at home in Leeds:
“Thank yo
u for all your care. The homebirth was a really lovely experience for our family…calm, relaxed, peaceful…just perfect. We
could not have wished for anything more”.
“Thank you for everything you did to enable me to stay at home and have my son. You really empowered me through a difficult birth when things didn’t go to plan”.
“Just wanted to say a huge thank you. My home water birth was more amazing than we could have hoped and even though I needed a hospital visit after I felt safe and well looked after throughout”.
“You are all amazing and supported me to have the birth I really wanted. Thank you for caring about what you do”.
Listen to Alexandra's home birth experience here:
For further information we hold an evening to explore having your baby at home.
The Leeds Home Birth Support Group is a peer support group to share experiences and ask questions surrounding having your baby at home. They can also be found on Facebook.
Homebirth Equipment Guide
Environment - anything to create your own calm atmosphere:
- Lighting - dimmed, fairy lights, battery powered tea lights
- Music - playlist accustomed to your taste
- Private area - to nest, old duvet, birthing ball, bean bag, pillows
- Visualisations, affirmations
Essential equipment:
- Towels - plenty!
- Large oil cloth or waterproof shower curtain
- Disposable pads - large (puppy training pads are good, and cheap!)
- Bucket or large bowl
- Torch
To birth in water:
- Pool with new liner
- Pump, hose, tap connection, thermometer, mirror, sieve
Mum’s personal care during labour:
- Lip balm
- Drinks (plenty), straws and/or sports bottle
- Energy boosting snacks i.e. chocolate, sweets, cereal bars, fruit, ice lollies, or whatever you fancy!
- Massage oil
- Hair tie/headband
- Flannel
Coping aids, some suggestions:
Water pool, Hot water bottle and/or wheat bag, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Paracetamol, Dihydrocodeine (can be requested via G.P. 30mg-60mg every 6 hours), Entonox (gas and air) will arrive with the midwives.
Tea, coffee and biscuits for the midwives; we will help ourselves!
Transfer bag for mum and baby (in case of transfer to hospital)
Contact us
Leeds Homebirth Team
0113 392 7445 / 0113 3926731
