NEW mum Rachel Bridgeman successfully gave birth to her second son Alfie at home on November 17, despite being classed as “high risk” following a caesarean section.

The 35-year-old mum-of-two from Chapelfields, Coventry, was determined to have a home-birth after a “highly medicalised” first delivery with two-year-old Ernesto.

She explained her feelings to her obstetrics consultant at University Hospital, Coventry, and was referred to two supervisory midwives, Ann O’Reilly and Bernie Donoghue, who fully supported her decision.

http://cv5.coventrytelegraph.net/2008/12/our-high-risk-chapelfields-hom.html

Today in the United States, at the end of the twentieth century, advances in science and technology account for many positive changes in our quality of life. Yet more and more women from all walks of life are choosing to give birth the old-fashioned way — in their own homes. Why?

The fact is, in spite of all the good that has come from scientific discoveries and experiments, medical science has not been able to improve the human body and the way it was designed to work. Yet when our bodies are not functioning the way they were created to function, we are more fortunate than our ancestors in that modern medical science can sometimes help.

http://www.gentlebirth.org/format/myths.html

MOTHERS-to-be are to be encouraged to stay away from hospital in an effort to more than double the number of home births in the Lothians.
Pregnant women living furthest from the ERI and St John’s in Livingston will be urged to consider giving birth in their own homes.

It is thought that avoiding long trips to and from the maternity units – including the sometimes hectic dash to “get there on time” – will make the experience of giving birth more relaxed for many women.

The health board also hopes to ease the pressure on the hospitals caused by the growing number of births.

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Pregnant-women-are-urged-to.4770315.jp

Edinburgh charity the Birth Resource Centre told Dunedin Napier News it believes NHS plans to encourage home birth in the Lothians are a good idea.

As birth rates rise the new Maternity Services Strategy is an attempt to double the number of home births annually, partly to ease the pressure on hospitals.

Jo Harknett, Coordinator at the Birth Rescource Centre, said: “We absolutely believe that informing, encouraging and supporting women and their partners to explore options for where they birth their babies is a good thing. If this is done positively and proactively then it is very likely that more women will choose to birth at home.”

http://dunedinnapiernews.com/2008/12/11/home-births-to-be-encouraged/

THE number of mums giving birth at home is lower in North Wales than in the rest of Wales, figures released last night show.

But those choosing home delivery rather than opting for a hospital maternity ward has increased sharply.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/12/10/home-birth-figures-low-in-north-wales-55578-22443100/

Safe in selected women, and with adequate infrastructure and support birth is an event of great importance in family life. Although pregnancy and delivery are, under healthy conditions, normal social and physiological processes, childbirth has become hospital centred in most industrialised countries. The assumption is that hospital based deliveries are safer for mother and child. Yet the Cumberlege report sees home birth as a real option, and the wishes of women to have home births must be viewed in that light.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/313/7068/1276