Home Birth Derbyshire

06/06/2025

🏡 Happy International Home Birth Day! 🏡

I decided pretty early on in my second pregnancy that I wanted to birth at home. A few amazing books, chats with friends that had birthed their babies at home, many conversations with my Doula, I knew it would be where I felt the most safe.

I got all the comments as you can imagine:
“Wow, you’re so brave.”
“Is that even safe?”
“Aren’t you worried?”
“Isn’t it messy?”

Eventually I just stopped telling people what I was planning as it was just easier to let them assume I was birthing in hospital. 🤐

But if anyone asks about my second birth now, I will be honest and tell them that my home birth was amazing, empowering and really normal.

Being in my own space, feeling calm, supported, private, it changed everything.

Now I know it might not be your choice, let’s not forget though that birth is hormonal. So feeling safe, unobserved, private, loved, supported and cared in your birthing environment matters so much to how those hormones flow and essentially how smooth labour progresses.

We know that all the latest evidence and research we have tells us that for straight-forward pregnancies home birth is just as safe as hospital birth.

You still have all the care, equipment, and support you need you just don't need to leave your home.

Tell me about your experiences of home birth?

20/02/2025

The unexpected part about childbirth?

It’s not the labour—it’s the preparation. It’s the process of unlearning everything society has conditioned us to believe about birth and instead, building self-trust.

Think about it…
⚡ Movies show birth as an emergency—rushed, chaotic, and unbearably painful.
⚡ Society tells us we need hospitals, machines, and constant monitoring for birth to be “safe.”
⚡ Many of us grow up hearing traumatic birth stories, rarely the empowering ones.

But here’s the truth: Birth can be physiological, powerful, and—when undisturbed—often unfolds in its own time.

In fact, research shows that for straightforward pregnancies, planning a home birth is just as safe as a hospital birth, with fewer interventions and higher satisfaction. You were made for this. 🙌

✨ Did these myths about birth shape your perception?
✨ Have you explored home birth as an option?

Share your thoughts in the comments. ⬇️

20/02/2025

An opportunity to give your feedback about UHDB maternity services.

Do you know someone who has accessed maternity or neonatal services at Royal Derby Hospital, Queen's Hospital Burton, Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, or in the community within the last two years?

We want to hear experiences from women, birthing people, partners and supporters to help us continue to improve our maternity services for all women, families and babies.

Join us at the Becket Family Hub, Derby, on Saturday 8 March, 10am - 12pm.

- Feeding friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Pushchair parking available inside
- Refreshments provided

Find out more https://shorturl.at/730N9

20/02/2025

✨ Privacy in Labour ✨

Have you ever considered that when the time comes, you might want to labour completely alone?

I often talk about:
✨️The importance of a supportive birth team
✨️Preparing comfort techniques with your partner(s)
✨️Ensuring your support is exactly what you need

But… what if the best support is privacy?

During my first birth, I spent most of my early labour alone in the house and garden. The second time, all I wanted was to stay in the bath and be alone.

✨ Privacy is crucial for truly letting go and sinking into your birthing bubble. This is so much easier to achieve in your own home.

Birth Prep Tip:
✔️ Consider how you’ll create privacy and discuss it with your partner.
✔️ Write it into your birth preferences.
✔️ Ask your birth team to communicate your wishes to healthcare providers.

This way, from the moment others enter your space, they understand how best to support your unique labor journey.

Did you labour alone or surrounded by support? Or a bit of both? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments! 💬

📸

18/02/2025

There are two things I love about this photo.

Firstly the fact that this baby weighs in at 12lb and was born at home. So yes it is possible to give birth to a baby that is bigger than average.

Also that the baby is being weighed in a prone position rather than on their back. Being weighed on their back on flat scales stimulates the baby's moro reflex, this stimulation means that they feel like they are falling which is a bit shocking to a brand new human.

..
Stop telling women they can’t birth big babies out of their va**na! ❤️

11/01/2025

😍 Birth and S*x 😍

The environment where life is created (in general) and where it enters the world isn’t so different. Here’s why:

🌙 Privacy & safety: Just as conception often happens in a private, safe space, birth flourishes in an atmosphere of calm and trust.

💓 The power of oxytocin: This is the hormone behind intimacy, or***ms, labour contractions and breastfeeding. It flows in abundance when you feel relaxed, supported, loved and nurtured.

✨Comfort & darkness: Soft lighting, warmth, and a sense of connection create the perfect energy for bringing life into the world—whether in love or labour.

In Sheila Kitzinger's book Birth and S*x she says "just like s*x, giving birth can be a rubbish experience, or even a traumatising one, or it can be brilliant. Most of all, if you want a positive experience then it’s probably best done in a private and comfortable space with those you trust."

So when you think about the space of birth, perhaps think could I make a baby here, could I have an or**sm in this environment?

06/01/2025

✨ There’s no such thing as false labour! ✨

Ever have a night where things feel like they’re kicking off? 🌙 You notice some twinges, lose your mucus plug, or feel those tightenings ramp up. You’re excited—this is it! You bounce on your birthing ball, cancel plans, take a warm bath, watch a funny movie, and do all the early labour prep. Then you head to bed, ready to call the midwife in the morning.

But when you wake up… nothing. 😫

The evening rolls around, and the cycle repeats. By now, you might feel disheartened, exhausted, or impatient. Someone may even mention “false labour.” But let me tell you: it’s NOT false labour. ❤️

💡 Reframing the Journey:
Every moment of pregnancy is a step toward birth. Even when things stop and start, your body and baby are doing essential work behind the scenes:

Encouraging your baby to rotate into the ideal position.
Helping your baby tuck their chin and align for birth.
Moving your baby further into the pelvis.
Softening, shortening, or beginning to open your cervix.
Your body knows what it’s doing, and every surge is progress. Each moment brings you closer to meeting your baby!

🤍 If You’re in This Stage:
Know that every second is moving you forward. The starting and stopping will eventually lead to the moment it doesn’t stop—when you finally hold your gorgeous baby in your arms.

🌸 In the Meantime:
📺 Distraction: Watch your favorite show or movie.
🧖🏿‍♀️ Relaxation: Take a bath or meditate.
🌬 Breathing: Practice calm, deep breaths.
🙏🏻 Patience: Trust the process.
👶🏼 Trust: Your body knows what it’s doing.

You’re so close, and you’re doing an incredible job! 💪🏻

If this has been your experience, share your tips for staying positive during this stage below. ❤️

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! Who is planning a home birth this year?

27/12/2024

Isn't that the truth!

You are the expert, pregnancy is your opportunity to tune in, build inner confidence, self awareness and knowledge.

25/12/2024

Peace on earth begins with birth. The day that many many people around the world celebrate a 2000 year old undisturbed/freebirth.


It's that time of year that we celebrate a 2000 year-old freebirth. A story that takes place in the most primitive surroundings: Mary, giving birth to the Son of God in a stable, that infamous image portrayed recurrently in our culture, familiar to even the irreligious. I couldn't find a single depiction of Mary giving birth so I made one myself: Mary in upright, ecstatic primal instinct that perhaps such an environment would help facilitate. Peace on earth begins with birth. ☄

THE CREATION OF MAN by “The human species is no more unsuited to give birth than any other of the 5000 species of mammals on the planet. The birth-giving woman is the central agent in the ancient drama of bringing forth new life” - Ina May
More at

14/12/2024

🤰 B I R T H W I T H O U T M E D I C A L A S S I S T A N C E 🤰

If you choose to have your baby at home without medical assistance, it is legal and is your choice. Whether it is a planned and informed/empowered choice or a one that you make last minute on the day due to no midwife availability. It is still always your choice.

It is also important to say that not everyone is going feel comfortable about freebirth/born before arrival/unassisted birth or whatever you would like to call it. I also know that it might not feel like you have a choice at all when a home birth service has been suspended.

As always this account and our home birth group are here to support you whatever your choices. It is not up to us to make decisions for you or to persuade you one way or another about what is best for you.

For some further reading there is some information about unassisted birth on the NHS website should anyone be unsure what you need to do legally if you give birth without medical assistance.

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/preparing-for-the-birth/where-to-give-birth-the-options/

There is also a Birth Rights Factsheet: https://www.birthrights.org.uk/factsheets/unassisted-birth/