05 August 2021
The Home Birth Service in HCS is seeing a big increase in the number of babies being born at home.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, home-birth services have continued to increase compared to recent years with 25 babies being born at home so far this year.
The rise is partly due to the pandemic, but mainly the desire to use a pool for labour and birth is rising and the service guarantees the use of a pool.
If the current trend in home births continues, Jersey could see an overall rate of 6% home births this year, that's 4% higher than the UK national average.
Home-births are a safe and appropriate choice for women who are experiencing normal pregnancies. Women are guaranteed access to a birthing pool and can labour and birth in the comfort of their own home without the need to interrupt the progression of labour with getting themselves into hospital.
Community Midwifery Manager, Catherine Houlder, said: "All our community midwives work incredibly hard 24/7. We all really enjoy this aspect of midwifery as it is a special experience to support a woman birthing her baby in her own environment and then tuck a new family up in bed."
"Women opting for home-birth are less likely to have an instrumental delivery, a caesarean section, an episiotomy, a haemorrhage or severe tear. We carry enough equipment that we can manage a problem until we reach a hospital and we also receive excellent support from the ambulance service who can offer an 8 min emergency response if needed.
"I fully recommend home-birth to any woman who is experiencing a normal pregnancy and anyone that is interested in home-birthing should speak to their community midwife."
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