S3:Ep1 Home Birth in Scotland

---

Also listen on:

---

Have you considered having a home birth?

A few generations ago, birth was moved from primarily the home into the hospital. We are now facing record high numbers of medical interventions in birth including caesarean sections and instrumental deliveries. The research is clear that for "low risk" pregnancies home birth is just as - if not more - safe than hospital birth.

Home birth is on the rise in Scotland, but still only makes up just over 1% of all births. Why?

In this episode Suzanne speaks with women who have recently given birth at home, midwives who work in a dedicated home birth team, and the Chief Midwifery Officer for Scotland to explore the reality of home birth in Scotland.

In this episode we discuss:

• reasons for choosing a home birth

• having your first baby at home

• home birth to avoid the cascade of intervention

• using hypnobirthing, and how that works well with home birth

• government strategy supporting choice of place of birth

• how midwives work in a dedicated home birth team

• what the midwifery care is like for a home birth

• how choosing a home birth results in less fragmented care

• practicalities of preparing for a home birth

• pain relief at home

• having other children, or pets, at your birth

• the postpartum care at home

• birth as a mainstream choice

• the safety of home birth from the midwifery perspective

• recommendations for choosing home birth

  The mothers on this podcast were Laura Somers and Simone Bowie.
  The midwives were Diane Cunningham, Jenni Conway and Rachel Heron and they work in the Ayrshire and Arran Home Birth team.
  The Chief Midwifery Officer for Scotland is Justine Craig.
  
  
  You can support this podcast here:
  https://buymeacoffee.com/motherheal

  
  Music by Shooglenifty with Dhun Dhora
  https://www.shooglenifty.com/
  The Mother Podcast is produced by Garry Finlayson and Suzanne Maier