There are three main options for where you can plan to give birth:
🏡 At home (homebirth)
🏩 Midwife led unit (MLU) or birth centre
🏥 Hospital labour ward
If you choose to birth at home, you could either have a free birth (with no medical support) or a homebirth with community midwives.
Midwife led units and birth centres are homely and comfortable, and they can be attached to hospitals but not always.
Hospital labour wards are where the majority of births take place. You’ll be looked after by midwives but doctors are available if needed.
There are advantages and considerations to each of the options, and your midwife will discuss them with you at your routine appointments. Talking to a local doula is also really helpful; it’s likely they’ve supported births in various settings and can talk you through your preferences and any questions you might have. Doulas can also be with you wherever you choose to birth!
If you’re willing to travel you can choose to birth with any maternity services, and your local GP surgery, children centre and maternity unit can give you more information too.
Naturally labour might take you by surprise somewhere else, like on a plane, in a supermarket or in a taxi…one article I read also said up a tree! Being born in a treehouse would be a pretty cool story 🌳
Do you have any questions about birth places? Would it be helpful to hear more from me about the advantages and considerations for each option?
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