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Original poster

Home Birth suspended

146 replies

OneLilacAnt · 06/02/2026 21:57

I am just after a little bit of reassurance…

I am 39 weeks pregnant and had planned a home birth however I have just had a phone call to say that all home births (in my area) have been suspended for the foreseeable.

One of my main reasons for home birth was because I had a very quick labour with my first child (5 hours from start to finish) and I live an hour away from the hospital. My midwife encouraged me to have a home birth as I am low risk and she also felt it was the safest option due to where I live. I also have to think about logistics of childcare when I go into labour.
I am worried I will end up having the baby in the car!

Has anyone else been in this situation? Did anyone else have a quicker birth second time round after a quick first birth?

Any responses would be appreciated- thank you!

OP posts:
ihatethewordhubby · 08/02/2026 08:42

Whilst many home births are uneventful and happy experiences, some are not. I know two home births recently in my small home town which resulted in the death of the baby and the other in the death of the mother. Being near or in a hospital gives you the best chance of a happy outcome. Best of luck with everything . I hope you find a good solution.

KidsDoBetter · 08/02/2026 08:56

Charliede1182 · 08/02/2026 01:15

What do you think happened until relatively recently in history?

Most women who give birth at home do so unintentionally and have either nobody or someone with no training whatsoever, until an ambulance arrives - if one turns up.

Fwiw I think it's beyond cavalier deliberately setting out to deliver at home. But if someone is determined to do so and can't get a licenced midwife either NHS or private then a trained lay person is far better than nobody.

This is not illegal provided mum is acting under her own volition and fully aware the individual is unlicensed. This also means they have no license to lose and are not under the jurisdiction of the NMC.

If things go wrong a trained birthing assistant would be able to spot trouble earlier, perform basic intervention and summon professional help promptly and coherently whereas partners or family cannot always distinguish normal labour from impending disaster and then panic.

Show quote history

Of course it’s not illegal! That’s not my point.

And of course up until recently peoples aunts, women in the village, etc etc assisted at home births.

But anyone who has been trained & qualified in midwifery in the modern era would not informally attend a birth. That is 100%. They could be personally liable if something happened at the birth to the baby or the mother.

Thinking you could ask on your local network if any retired midwife might attend your birth is nutso.

Complications from birth is one of the most prevalent areas of medical negligence litigation. A midwife knows this. Private midwives carry (expensive) professional indemnity insurance for this purpose.

Entirely different your partner or mum or friend (non midwives) being at your accidental or intended home birth. They have no midwifery training and therefore would have no liability if, god forbid, something went wrong.

KidsDoBetter · 08/02/2026 09:03

Needspaceforlego · 08/02/2026 08:30

It might not be illegal for a MW to assist at a home birth as a favour but its a huge favour

Would you ask any other professional to do you a favour?
I can't be assed paying legal fees for my house sale so I'll just as around see if someone will do it as a favour?

Then take into account if something goes wrong, either the mother or baby dies. The MW would need to defend herself in court. Who's paying their legal fees?
Can she still work while under investigation?

There have been a couple of cases in court recently where MWs have attended homebirths that have gone wrong, including one with the Mum wanting dim lights, and a dula preventing them doing their job. The two MW were left traumatised by the death

Off duty nurses have been advised not to let people know they are nurses, in emergency situations as nurses have been sued for helping at accidents.

Nobody in their right mind would take that risk for a loose acquaintance

Show quote history

Exactly! You are held to a much standard higher standard (obviously) if you are a trained midwife. To do this informally would be madness. To ask someone to do it would be mortifying imo

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 08/02/2026 09:12

Could you book a hotel near hospital now have a birthing bag with you? Your partner drops you to hospital at first twinge then stays with older child at hotel. Then you’re there when labourer starts. Good luck 🤞

Magnoliame · 08/02/2026 09:48

My first born arrived less than an hour after getting to the Maternity ward! My next two babies were both induced and so I was already at the hospital. I would definitely be induced again as it takes away all the stress.

ImpPeril · 08/02/2026 10:47

OneLilacAnt · 07/02/2026 16:03

I can totally understand if it’s a staffing issue and midwives are over stretched- it really isn’t fair on them. However, it’s more that I was told I can have a home birth, got the pool (not cheap to hire) and to then tell me at 39 weeks pregnant that the service has been suspended without any prior notification that this could happen. It’s more just the stress of knowing baby could come at anytime and now not having a birth plan that I am happy with.
My midwife was also really encouraging me to have one and said how much she loves home births etc (obviously not her fault at all as she would have been unaware this was happening).

Thank you again for the all the response.

FWIIW, if anyone is learning from this thread, home births can be suspended with any level of notice if they're not able to safely support the service - even up until you are being triaged in early labour. E.g. if the home birth midwives are already busy with another home birth or even, (as on the day my little one was born) because the Ambulance service weren't able to meet minimum response times. It is unlikely but I would always recommend having a plan B.

I am also rural and can only offer my sympathy for the change in the plan. I hope that you are able to find an alternative that you feel comfortable with.

ThisHazelPombear · 08/02/2026 11:01

Any service can be withdrawn due to funding. You have no power as a patient to make the nhs or individual clinician do what you want.

All complaining about it would do is tie up managers time.

FamilynotMaiden · 08/02/2026 11:33

@ThisHazelPombear
"You have no power as a patient to make the nhs or individual clinician do what you want."
Does the same apply regarding a woman choosing an elective C-Section?

FamilynotMaiden · 08/02/2026 11:35

@ihatethewordhubby That's factually incorrect. For subsequent pregnancies, home birth is as safe as hospital (and with many distinct advantages).

girlabouthome · 08/02/2026 12:58

I would be staying out of the hospital at all costs.
Unless a medical emergency - which birth isn’t.

It’s a physiological function.

Most maternity units are not adequate, check CQC rating for your local trust.

Raising rates of birth trauma, maternal death and outcomes for baby go hand in hand with the raising amount of willy nilly inductions/sections and opioid usage.

I will be having my 4th at home in May and can’t wait.

Ideally I wouldn’t want a midwife present, but they have agreed to sit in the background and only listen in to fetal tones when necessary.

Needspaceforlego · 08/02/2026 13:06

girlabouthome · 08/02/2026 12:58

I would be staying out of the hospital at all costs.
Unless a medical emergency - which birth isn’t.

It’s a physiological function.

Most maternity units are not adequate, check CQC rating for your local trust.

Raising rates of birth trauma, maternal death and outcomes for baby go hand in hand with the raising amount of willy nilly inductions/sections and opioid usage.

I will be having my 4th at home in May and can’t wait.

Ideally I wouldn’t want a midwife present, but they have agreed to sit in the background and only listen in to fetal tones when necessary.

A birth might not be a medical emergency in theory but plenty of us would be 'Game over" if it wasn't for the skills of midwifes, doctors, their determination, equipment at hand.

My baby was delivered fine, I hemorrhaged after it.

Any birth can very quickly become an emergency for both mother and child. If it wasn't midwifes and hospital births just wouldn't be a thing

There have been 2 enquiries recently into home births that went wrong.

ThisHazelPombear · 08/02/2026 13:22

FamilynotMaiden · 08/02/2026 11:33

@ThisHazelPombear
"You have no power as a patient to make the nhs or individual clinician do what you want."
Does the same apply regarding a woman choosing an elective C-Section?

No that’s a treatment option. Many other elective ops are cancelled till April though.

You cant get a printer cartridge at the moment.

mshopeful · 08/02/2026 13:23

Hi!

My four babies have all come very quickly (it’s known as precipitous labour). First came in 2.5 hours, then 1.5 hours, then 1 hour 10 minutes, and last baby came in 1 hour 40 minutes.

The homebirth service in our area was suspended when I was due to deliver our third baby. I told my midwife I’d be having baby at home either way—I just wasn’t willing to go to a hospital, and wasn’t willing to risk birthing on the side of the road. We lived only twenty minutes from the hospital, but I still wasn’t willing to birth in a hospital setting as a low-risk, third-time mother.

As due date drew nearer, though, my resolve wavered. I decided I would be okay with birthing in the standalone midwifery led unit up the coast—40 minutes away. I knew it was a risk but I truly did want midwives present for the birth, and I knew this MLU to be a tolerable environment.

Labour had begun for me at 8 AM. We got the kids settled with my in-laws and got into the car as quickly as we could. At 8:50 AM we were headed to the MLU, but hit school traffic. The midwife at the MLU also called to say their one birthing pool had been recently occupied. This put me off making the trip entirely, as we had a pool already inflated and ready for filling at home. I told my husband (between very strong contractions) to just take me home. He was shocked and unsure, but listened and took us back home, fortunately only ten minutes back up the road.

We got back at 9.00 AM, and my husband ran inside to start filling the pool while I planned to wait in the car in our driveway. The very next contraction told me, though, that there would be no time for pool-filling. I walked calmly inside, got on all fours in my living room, and told my husband to forget the pool. ‘Grab some towels, baby is coming.’ I shimmied my leggings down and my husband returned with towels in hand just in time. She was born into Daddy’s hands at 9.10 AM.

We wouldn’t have made it to the MLU. We wouldn’t even have made it to the hospital which was twice as close to us. I was safest all the time staying home and delivering my baby calmly, in the comfort and warmth and safety of our own home.

My husband has also phoned the paramedics when we got back home, to inform them of an ‘unplanned homebirth’ and request assistance. They didn’t manage to arrive until 40 minutes after the birth, which allowed us to have an unspeakably beautiful period of uninterrupted time together with our baby, and to introduce her to her siblings. It was the highlight of my life, and of our marriage. I have never felt so proud of my husband, and he of me.

If you are confident in yourself and your partner, you can plan to freebirth in this way. You can begin my calling the midwives and tell them your baby is coming and you won’t be leaving the house. Either they will find a midwife to send out to you, or they’ll advise you to phone the paramedics. The paramedics upon arrival can ensure you and baby are well, and will suggest a transfer to hospital/MLU. You can decline or accept this! I accepted it just so we could both get looked over. I found the ambulance ride surprisingly cosy and comfortable! I just held baby skin-to-skin on my chest the whole way over to the MLU. We stayed a few hours at the MLU to have a nap, and then went back home. ♥️

Feel free to send any questions my way!

GlasgowGal2014 · 08/02/2026 13:38

mshopeful · 08/02/2026 13:23

Hi!

My four babies have all come very quickly (it’s known as precipitous labour). First came in 2.5 hours, then 1.5 hours, then 1 hour 10 minutes, and last baby came in 1 hour 40 minutes.

The homebirth service in our area was suspended when I was due to deliver our third baby. I told my midwife I’d be having baby at home either way—I just wasn’t willing to go to a hospital, and wasn’t willing to risk birthing on the side of the road. We lived only twenty minutes from the hospital, but I still wasn’t willing to birth in a hospital setting as a low-risk, third-time mother.

As due date drew nearer, though, my resolve wavered. I decided I would be okay with birthing in the standalone midwifery led unit up the coast—40 minutes away. I knew it was a risk but I truly did want midwives present for the birth, and I knew this MLU to be a tolerable environment.

Labour had begun for me at 8 AM. We got the kids settled with my in-laws and got into the car as quickly as we could. At 8:50 AM we were headed to the MLU, but hit school traffic. The midwife at the MLU also called to say their one birthing pool had been recently occupied. This put me off making the trip entirely, as we had a pool already inflated and ready for filling at home. I told my husband (between very strong contractions) to just take me home. He was shocked and unsure, but listened and took us back home, fortunately only ten minutes back up the road.

We got back at 9.00 AM, and my husband ran inside to start filling the pool while I planned to wait in the car in our driveway. The very next contraction told me, though, that there would be no time for pool-filling. I walked calmly inside, got on all fours in my living room, and told my husband to forget the pool. ‘Grab some towels, baby is coming.’ I shimmied my leggings down and my husband returned with towels in hand just in time. She was born into Daddy’s hands at 9.10 AM.

We wouldn’t have made it to the MLU. We wouldn’t even have made it to the hospital which was twice as close to us. I was safest all the time staying home and delivering my baby calmly, in the comfort and warmth and safety of our own home.

My husband has also phoned the paramedics when we got back home, to inform them of an ‘unplanned homebirth’ and request assistance. They didn’t manage to arrive until 40 minutes after the birth, which allowed us to have an unspeakably beautiful period of uninterrupted time together with our baby, and to introduce her to her siblings. It was the highlight of my life, and of our marriage. I have never felt so proud of my husband, and he of me.

If you are confident in yourself and your partner, you can plan to freebirth in this way. You can begin my calling the midwives and tell them your baby is coming and you won’t be leaving the house. Either they will find a midwife to send out to you, or they’ll advise you to phone the paramedics. The paramedics upon arrival can ensure you and baby are well, and will suggest a transfer to hospital/MLU. You can decline or accept this! I accepted it just so we could both get looked over. I found the ambulance ride surprisingly cosy and comfortable! I just held baby skin-to-skin on my chest the whole way over to the MLU. We stayed a few hours at the MLU to have a nap, and then went back home. ♥️

Feel free to send any questions my way!

Lovely story and I am glad it ended well for you, but I also had a home birth and if the midwives hadn't been present with their equipment when my baby was born then he wouldn't have lived.

FamilynotMaiden · 08/02/2026 14:20

I would absolutely recommend an IM if you can afford one - ours was worth every penny. I used my savings as it was ultimately the same sort of figure as a nice holiday and absolutely crucial for us that my husband was there for the birth of his first and last baby (height of Covid so could not be guaranteed for a hospital birth). She did all of my antenatal and postnatal care.

Needspaceforlego · 08/02/2026 14:33

mshopeful · 08/02/2026 13:23

Hi!

My four babies have all come very quickly (it’s known as precipitous labour). First came in 2.5 hours, then 1.5 hours, then 1 hour 10 minutes, and last baby came in 1 hour 40 minutes.

The homebirth service in our area was suspended when I was due to deliver our third baby. I told my midwife I’d be having baby at home either way—I just wasn’t willing to go to a hospital, and wasn’t willing to risk birthing on the side of the road. We lived only twenty minutes from the hospital, but I still wasn’t willing to birth in a hospital setting as a low-risk, third-time mother.

As due date drew nearer, though, my resolve wavered. I decided I would be okay with birthing in the standalone midwifery led unit up the coast—40 minutes away. I knew it was a risk but I truly did want midwives present for the birth, and I knew this MLU to be a tolerable environment.

Labour had begun for me at 8 AM. We got the kids settled with my in-laws and got into the car as quickly as we could. At 8:50 AM we were headed to the MLU, but hit school traffic. The midwife at the MLU also called to say their one birthing pool had been recently occupied. This put me off making the trip entirely, as we had a pool already inflated and ready for filling at home. I told my husband (between very strong contractions) to just take me home. He was shocked and unsure, but listened and took us back home, fortunately only ten minutes back up the road.

We got back at 9.00 AM, and my husband ran inside to start filling the pool while I planned to wait in the car in our driveway. The very next contraction told me, though, that there would be no time for pool-filling. I walked calmly inside, got on all fours in my living room, and told my husband to forget the pool. ‘Grab some towels, baby is coming.’ I shimmied my leggings down and my husband returned with towels in hand just in time. She was born into Daddy’s hands at 9.10 AM.

We wouldn’t have made it to the MLU. We wouldn’t even have made it to the hospital which was twice as close to us. I was safest all the time staying home and delivering my baby calmly, in the comfort and warmth and safety of our own home.

My husband has also phoned the paramedics when we got back home, to inform them of an ‘unplanned homebirth’ and request assistance. They didn’t manage to arrive until 40 minutes after the birth, which allowed us to have an unspeakably beautiful period of uninterrupted time together with our baby, and to introduce her to her siblings. It was the highlight of my life, and of our marriage. I have never felt so proud of my husband, and he of me.

If you are confident in yourself and your partner, you can plan to freebirth in this way. You can begin my calling the midwives and tell them your baby is coming and you won’t be leaving the house. Either they will find a midwife to send out to you, or they’ll advise you to phone the paramedics. The paramedics upon arrival can ensure you and baby are well, and will suggest a transfer to hospital/MLU. You can decline or accept this! I accepted it just so we could both get looked over. I found the ambulance ride surprisingly cosy and comfortable! I just held baby skin-to-skin on my chest the whole way over to the MLU. We stayed a few hours at the MLU to have a nap, and then went back home. ♥️

Feel free to send any questions my way!

40mins for paramedics? Thats scary. What if you or baby wasn't well?
I think 40mins after DC2 I was in theather having already had some sort of blood substitute fired into me by drip.

The reason I was given for hemorrhage was Speed of delivery and how fast the placenta came away. Apparently it leaves a wound the size of a dinner plate inside you.

GlasgowGal2014 · 08/02/2026 14:41

Needspaceforlego · 08/02/2026 14:33

40mins for paramedics? Thats scary. What if you or baby wasn't well?
I think 40mins after DC2 I was in theather having already had some sort of blood substitute fired into me by drip.

The reason I was given for hemorrhage was Speed of delivery and how fast the placenta came away. Apparently it leaves a wound the size of a dinner plate inside you.

Edited
Show quote history

If my home birth baby had waited 40 minutes after birth to be resuscitated and receive oxygen he'd be dead. He might not even have made it out alive if the midwives hadn't been there to recognise things had turned into an emergency through checking his heart rate and to get me into a position to get him out quickly (shoulder dystocia). An ambulance wouldn't have had a face mask of the correct size either so he really needed the midwives kit. I'm all for home births, but encouraging free birthing is just irresponsible. Midwives save lives.

Judgejudysno1fan · 08/02/2026 15:54

NotQuiteUsual · 07/02/2026 16:10

I dilated 2cm to 10cm in 2 hours for my first, 5 minutes for my second and 5 hours for my third. Labour is super unpredictable. I'd definitely be prepared for an accidental home birth, just incase.

I know it's stressful, disappointing and all round a bit shit. But since you can't change anything try not to be negative about it all. Its still going to be a beautiful experience, just different from how to envisioned it.

5 minutes correct blimey!!.... me on the other hand is between 1 and 2 days of contractions. Baby number 6 was 27 hours and im due in 13 weeks and wish I could have a speedy labour. Not 5 minutes but time to get to hospital and get the gas and air and pethidine going , sling myself in the pool and enjoy the water birth 😀

Op, if they ban home births, they cant predict how quick your baby's going to come. I'd say if you already hired the pool and feel contractions coming on quickly and youre comfortable stay where you are and call the midwife. If youre 39 weeks you could even go into labour tonight/tomorrow, you just never know. When a baby is coming, its coming. You'd have to do almost 2 hours of driving, well your husband driving. 25 minutes to drop off your child to childcare, 25 minutes back to the area as you said its opposite direction and then another of hour of driving all the while contradicting!!!!

Im very grateful i live 10/15 minutes from mine. Wish you all the best and lots of love. X

Judgejudysno1fan · 08/02/2026 15:54

5 minutes corrrr blimey!!.... *

OhDear111 · 08/02/2026 16:22

I find it amazing that we offered hospital births because of birth mortality. Now we seem to have forgotten about that and want to turn the clock back and get Auntie Vi in to deliver the baby! Like the good old times of infant mortality!

Needspaceforlego · 08/02/2026 18:06

OhDear111 · 08/02/2026 16:22

I find it amazing that we offered hospital births because of birth mortality. Now we seem to have forgotten about that and want to turn the clock back and get Auntie Vi in to deliver the baby! Like the good old times of infant mortality!

Yip.
Its scary how much people want to turn the clock back, or how much people don't realise how dangerous giving birth actually its.
Two of the most dangerous things you can do, be born and give birth.

On another forum I came across a lady who had a traumatic emergency cesarean with her first, was advised to have a planned section for her second.
She went against advice, wanted a calm natural birth, the baby ended up stillborn.
Just so tragic.

Goalhappy · 08/02/2026 18:31

My 2nd and 3rd were home births, 2nd very long labour super calm loads of time.
My 3rd was super fast -about an hour and a half after waking up with very mild contractions. I phoned the hospital who said they couldn’t send anyone ( didn’t know I was 30 minutes away from delivering at this point but was rooted to the spot and childcare was not going to be arriving anytime soon) so my husband just said ‘okay we’ll just crack on then’ and hung up. 5 minutes before the birth 2 midwives came running through the door. They will do their best to get to you, there are many accidental home births, midwives will still help where they can!

Floss277 · 08/02/2026 20:20

I had quick labours and despite having home births booked, 1 of mine arrived before the midwife and the others within a few minutes of the midwife arriving. I can understand it must be disappointing for the home birth service to be paused but as a community midwife myself I can understand why this sometimes needs to be done to ensure safe levels of staffing. There is every chance it could take the on call midwives an hour and a half or more to reach you anyway (fairly typical in the area I live in) depending on where they live and obviously need to finish what they are doing during the day/ get up, dressed and ready at night etc. 2nd and subsequent labours do in general tend to be quicker then 1st labours. I would just advise you ring the hospital as soon as you think anything is happening and mention to them you were relatively quick last time

Happytap · 08/02/2026 21:05

My second was born in the car (still better than my hospital birth for my first!!) and my third at home - by far the best birth.

Id ask them to fund a private midwife. You can ask for advice on the home birth Facebook group.

mshopeful · 09/02/2026 00:05

Midwives being present for emergency care was always the plan! I was very sad when the service was suspended and I frankly knew I would not make it to any midwife in time, given the speed of my labours. As women who labour extremely quickly, we are forced to prepare for the possibility of delivering our babies unassisted. It’s just unavoidable sometimes, as in the case of my third baby. As I shared, we would not have made it to hospital in time, and we truly did try before turning the car around. I’m so glad I trusted my instincts and returned home, or we would have been birthing on the side of the road.

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