Newbury Homebirth Support Group began in September 2005 with the aim of bringing together those who have had or were interested in having a homebirth and providing information to those who seek it regardless of where they plan to give birth.

We recognise that most women are not presented with all the facts and many do not have easy access to other points of view. Many women (after they have birthed in hospital) wish they’d known homebirth was an option. There is a huge amount of misinformation and fear surrounding homebirth, pregnancy and birth in general and most people (even some health professionals) are unaware of the research that clearly shows that a planned homebirth is as safe if not safer than hospital birth for a healthy woman enjoying a healthy pregnancy. The government actually states that all women be offered all the options for birth but we know that in practice this is not actually happening.

We do not want to try and persuade women to stay at home but to provide access to information, and support if required. We recognise that it is very important that women trust and listen to what their instinct is telling them whether this may be urging them to consider homebirth or stick with hospital or one of the birthing centres.

Unfortunately many women experience interventions in hospital that would NOT have been needed at home, just one intervention no matter how small it seems, can lead to a whole cascade of others and everybody needs to be aware of this. The information we have will hopefully help those choosing to birth in hospital to avoid some of these interventions many of which are a matter of policy and not in the interests of mother and baby, the damaging effect of such intervention can last a lifetime affecting mother, baby, the whole family and even generations to come.

For the majority pregnancy and birth is uncomplicated but even when something untoward does arise there is nearly always another more gentle approach to that of the medical model but again these options are not always made clear.

In the UK today choosing homebirth means going against the “cultural norm” and what family and friends expect, many women go to hospital for this reason denying what they instinctively feel to be right. Our group consists of women who understand how difficult this can be and can offer a listening ear.

Members of our group include women with 1,2 3, 4 and more children, some who had their first baby at home, Midwives, Doulas and of course Dads, Sisters and Brothers.

Remember this is ………..

Your Body - Your Baby - Your Birth - Your Choice

Question everything and if something doesn’t feel right to you then seek another answer because there is bound to be one!