Covid pandemic leads to growing number of women giving birth at home

The Covid pandemic has lead to a growing number of women choosing to give birth at home.

The trend has been linked to the impact of the pandemic on hospital services, which included restrictions on birth partners and visiting.

NHS guidance suggests giving birth at home is as safe as a hospital setting, although women who have been categorised as 'high risk' are encouraged to seek an alternative option.

Jordanstown Doula, Birth Coach and Birth Videographer; Linzi Watts has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of women opting to have their baby at home.

In 2023 alone Linzi has been present at the birth of over 20 babies. She expects the number of home births to rise again in 2024.

"Since covid, I have seen a lot of women who wouldn't have usually chosen home birth wanting to birth at home, because of the restrictions put in place within the maternity services."

"Often people think, have your first baby in the hospital just to be safe, but actually, women are starting to realise that birthing at home is just as safe for baby and safer for mum, for the majority of pregnancies."

Home birth is one of the options offered to women by the NHS, but before covid struck, the uptake rate was just over 2 percent.

Linzi has called for greater education for expecting parents.

"I don't think there is enough conversation that happens around having home birth as an valid choice. Presently, So it is up to the woman who is pregnant to explore all of her options herself."