Home Birth

Most women have a normal and healthy pregnancy and can give birth at home. Choosing a home birth is about making choices that fit with your beliefs and suit your individual family. It is important that your midwife's beliefs are compatible with your own.

Consider your midwife's experience with home birth and the experience of the second midwife who would be at your birth. Most home birth midwives carry the same level of safety equipment as a small regional hospital and should come to you equipped to deal with emergencies.

Find out about your local home birth association and talk to members. Local home birth asociations will have meetings you can attend and may have equipment you can hire, particularly birth pools.

If you are considering a home birth but are unsure if it is the way to go for you then talking to families who have had one can help with your decision making. To find out more about home birth in your area approach your local home birth association. If you live in the Manawatu you can phone the Manawatu Home Birth Association on 06 356 BABY (06 356 2229). If you live elsewhere in New Zealand you can look on the website of Home Birth Aotearoa www.homebirth.org.nz