Nicola Ward shares her story of having three home births with very different experiences

“I initially chose to have my first baby at home, after doing some reading I wanted to do it as natural as possible. I also don’t really like hospitals and I feel the safest and most

comfortable at home, so I knew being at home would be the best environment for me to give birth.

“I went on to have a beautiful first birth with my baby, Rose. I felt like having a dedicated midwife and team around me felt like a luxury and was given personalised care.

“I decided to have another home birth with my second baby, but that went very differently. He was 10lb 7oz and was a shoulder dystocia birth, which is when the baby’s shoulder is stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone, so it was a very tough labour. Once I delivered his head his body wouldn’t come out, so my midwife Helen rotated him by hand and he came out, but he had to be resuscitated and we were taken to hospital by ambulance.

“I felt completely looked after from my midwives and my care was never compromised at all in that situation by being at home. I had excellent personalised care, and the same thing would have happened if were in the hospital.

“I experienced a lot of trauma from that birth, including from having to be in hospital following the birth. So, when I got pregnant again I really had to think about where to give birth, but I still whole heartedly believed in a home birth was the best for me.

“Thankfully, Helen, who went through my previous birth with me, was my midwife and she was so supportive of what I wanted, and was clear that it was my choice. Her support was unwavering throughout and she’s become a family friend. She’s an amazing woman, the whole team are incredible.

“With my third baby I gave birth to my baby Austin at home a week early, and he was born within 3 hours. It was a textbook birth and everything we could have asked for.

“I’m glad everyone can have the option and to choose what they want freely, knowing that support is there for them, whatever their choice is.”