A major new study of over half a million births has found that for a woman who has no known pregnancy or health problems, giving birth at home is as safe as having her baby at hopsital.Good news for those who want to give birth at homeThe study

In the old days of course, all women would labour and give birth in their own homes but over the course of the last century, as medical science developed, it became the norm to have a hospital birth. In fact, not only did it become expected

or at home. But with maternity unit closures and midwife shortages also in the headlines, a question mark hangs over whether the plan is financially feasible. All this talk about birthing options though, will leave many more women wondering what they may

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics shows there was a seven per cent increase in home births between 2003 and 2004.Although there is growing popularity for home births, some women are discouraged from this option where doctors

A new study by the National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health claims that women are eight times more likely to lose their baby if they opt for a home birth and then have to be transferred to hospital.Published in the BJOG

supportive of your home birth choice. Don't be afraid to ask the midwife about her experience, especially if you have a particular concern. If your health authority doesn't give you a chance to actively choose and get to know a midwife then you might want

Only 2.5% of women gave birth at home in the UK in 2010 compared to 33.2% in 1960. Just one woman in 40 now gives birth at home with midwives blaming increasing NHS funding cuts for the decrease. Women in their late thirties are more likely

Cathy Warwick, the general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, has voiced her concerns about a backlash against home births in response to an editorial in the Lancet medical journal.The Lancet’s editorial responded to claims by a US report

Hollie’s birth on Wednesday and thanked hospital staff for saving his wife’s life.“We are delighted to say that Amanda is now home,” said Alison Griffin, the couple’s spokesperson. “She and Chris would like to thank everyone who was involved in her care

A major study has found that home births are more risky for first-time mums, however, overall 90% of women who gave birth at home had ‘normal births’, with fewer assisted deliveries, c-sections and other common interventions.The Birthplace