One of the most important decisions you will make during your pregnancy is where to give birth. You may not be aware that you have a range of options available to you.
National guidance from NICE (Intrapartum Care) states that if you have an uncomplicated pregnancy, you can choose to give birth in any setting. This includes:
You should be supported in your choice, wherever you decide to give birth.
If you have a medical condition, have experienced complications in a previous pregnancy or birth, or there are concerns about you or your baby’s wellbeing during this pregnancy, you may be advised to give birth in an obstetric unit. This is because it offers additional monitoring and specialist care for you and your baby.
It is important to know that you are still able to make choices about where you give birth. Sometimes, your preferred option may be different from what is recommended based on your individual circumstances. If this happens, your midwife will talk this through with you and provide the information you need to make an informed decision.
You may also be offered an appointment with a specialist team, such as a midwife from the Birth Choices Clinic, a Consultant Midwife or a Consultant Obstetrician to discuss your options in more detail and support you in creating a personalised care plan for your labour and birth.
When you are thinking about your options for labour and birth, it can be helpful to use the BRAIN acronym. This is a simple tool to support informed decision-making and discussions with your care team.
Using BRAIN can help you feel more confident in your choices and ensure that your preferences and values are part of the decision-making process. Your midwife will be happy to talk through these questions with you at any stage of your pregnancy.
Click on the below to expand the different birth choice options to learn more:
Click on the below topics to expand and learn more:
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