Booking yourself in
The midwife should be your first point of contact.
“In a normal low-risk pregnancy where a woman is not obese, has no underlying medical conditions or history of previous birth complications, her care can be managed by a midwife, without needing to see an obstetrician,” explains Emma.
"The midwife can book a scan to date your pregnancy from about 9-11 weeks and talk you through all aspects of care including antenatal screening tests, blood tests and regular check-ups you’ll need to monitor you and your baby’s health."
Choosing where to give birth
Antenatal childbirth and parenting classes can help you decide where to give birth and the type of birth you might want.
Women can also choose to pay for additional parenting classes from private providers or private natural birthing centres.
There are a number of choices including:
Home birth
According to the ONS, the percentage of women giving birth at home was 2.3% in 2015, remaining unchanged since 2012. Midwives will usually support your wish to have a home birth if the birth is considered low risk and without any medical complications.
Pros:
- You give birth in a relaxed, familiar environment receiving one to one care from a midwife.
- Some models of care offer two midwives at the point of birth.
- The National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) ‘Birthplace cohort study’ found that, ‘giving birth [in the UK] is generally very safe… For women having a second or subsequent baby, home births and midwifery unit births appear to be safe for the baby and offer benefits for the mother.”
- Afterwards you can relax in your own bed and enjoy uninterrupted time with your baby without interference.
Cons:
- The NPEU ‘Birthplace cohort study’ found that for a first baby, a planned home birth increases risk for the baby (with a poor outcome for 9 per 1000, compared to 5 per 1000 in an obstetric unit) and there is a 45% chance of being transferred to hospital during labour.
- Women can have pain relief at home but can’t have an epidural at home.
Midwife-led birthing units
There are two types of birthing units:
- Freestanding midwifery units (FMU) which are separate from a hospital setting and will not have immediate access to obstetric, neonatal and anaesthetic care.
- An adjacent midwifery unit (AMU) which are attached to hospital obstetric units.
Both are staffed by midwives and the care is midwifery-led as midwives are specialised in uncomplicated, low risk, normal births. They are not available everywhere – there are currently around 53 nationwide.
“The emphasis is on natural birthing techniques such as women keeping mobile and in upright positions using gravity, water and birthing pools, birth balls and birth stools to support women in labour,” explains Emma.
Pros:
- Like home births, evidence suggests that midwife-led units are safe – The NPEU Study found that planned births in freestanding and attached midwifery units had no significant differences in adverse outcomes compared with those in an obstetric unit.
- There are fewer interventions than births in an obstetric unit.
Cons:
- You can’t have an epidural.
- You may have to transfer to hospital if complications develop.
Hospital obstetric units
These are where most women give birth and are led by consultant obstetricians who can perform instrumental deliveries and caesarean sections.
“Having opted for a hospital birth doesn’t mean you can’t have a natural birth,” explains Emma. "For the majority of women, birth can be a wonderful experience, even in hospital. Some midwives are trained in acupuncture, aromatherapy, water births and hypno-birthing techniques – it’s not all about drugs and monitors. Midwives will support your choices wherever possible."
Pros:
- Full range of pain relief options including epidurals.
- Most units have birthing pools.
- Medical assistance (likeCaesarean)available on site without needing to transfer.
Cons:
- Statistically more likely to have medical intervention.
- Setting is more clinical and less personal.
Private medical insurance doesn’t usually cover maternity services – so most births in the UK will be in an NHS-run unit or at home. However, there are a number of private maternity hospitals in England and women can choose to contact independent midwifery services.
For more information on pregnancy, postnatal care and early childhood, take a look at our pregnancy and children's health hubs or ask our Health at Hand team a question.
Early Years Support from AXA Health
At AXA Health, we understand that becoming a parent – and a family – is a life-changing event, which at times we may not feel fully prepared for.
That's why we've developed our Early Years Support Service for anyone embarking on parenthood, however many times you may have ‘been there’ before!
Available through our Health at Hand team, the Early Years Support Service has registered midwives and nurses at the end of the phone for you or your family to talk to, day or night, 365 days a year*.
We're here to provide medical information and support, whenever you need us. So, if you’re looking for reassurance, a friendly chat, or if you have questions about anything from pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, to adapting to parenthood and beyond, call us on 0800 003 004. If you prefer, you can also contact us by email via our Ask the Expert service and one of the team will get back to you.
*Availability of specialist support:
Nurses and counsellors are available 24 hours a day, every day.
Midwife and pharmacist services available 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm Saturdays, and 8am to 12pm Sundays. Call backs can be arranged.
We will transfer members to our counselling service as appropriate.
Further reading
The Office of National Statistics ‘Births in England and Wales: 2019’ and ‘Birth characteristics in England and Wales: 2019’
NICE guidance - Intrapartum care for healthy women and babies
National Maternity Review ‘Better Births: Improving outcomes of maternity services in England’
