Homebirth

 

If you have a straightforward pregnancy you can have the option to give birth at home.

You will be cared for by our team of community midwives who work in the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. 

Equipment we will provide you

Birthing pools, comfortable upright birth (CUB) stools and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENs) machines form part of the kit carried by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Community Midwives. Although if you would prefer, you can provide your own equipment.

Gas and air (Entonox) will be available if you come to need this type of pain relief and can be used alongside other natural methods to help you stay relaxed and calm during your baby's birth.

Please note that epidurals are not available at a home birth. 

Who will attend a home birth?

Two midwives will attend your birth, to support you and keep you comfortable. They will be able to suggest a variety of labour techniques suited to you, helping to make sure your experience is a positive one.

For more information, please read our home birth leaflet .

If you would like a home birth please discuss this with your midwife. 

If you decide on a home birth, this will be discussed again with you at 34 and 36 weeks to check whether your pregnancy is still straightforward.

If you have not already, you can refer yourself directly to our maternity services without having to speak to your GP. You can  call our Maternity Helpline on 020 8836 4491.

During your pregnancy we'll offer a range of tests that are designed to make your pregnancy safer, assess the development and wellbeing of you and your baby or to screen for particular conditions.

It is your choice whether to have a test. So that you can make an informed decision, find out about your choices of screening tests during your pregnancy and for your baby. There are easy read guides to the screening tests for you and your baby. This information is available in a number of languages.