Royal Berkshire Maternity: Homebirth Team

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Royal Berkshire Maternity: Homebirth Team

Providing information and support regarding homebirths with Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust.

24/11/2025

Happy MSW celebration day to all of our maternity support workers, and especially to Donna from our homebirth team!! 🎉

Please do share in the comments any of your lovely feedback for Donna or any of our other maternity support workers!

19/11/2025

Welcoming the newest midwife to join our homebirth family, Joy! 🏡✨️

"Hi I'm Joy, I am a registered midwife and nurse with over a decade of experience, starting my midwifery career in 2013 in my home country Nigeria!. I have been with RBH for over four years, beginning as a postnatal nurse before completing my midwifery degree in the UK. I have worked across all areas of maternity and now love being part of the Homebirth Team, where the continuity of care allows me to support birthing people throughout their pregnancy journey.

I am passionate about physiological birth, and I aim to empower and bring 'Joy' to birthing people during one of life’s most transformative moments. Outside work, I love to laugh and make memories with my family 🥰.

I am looking forward to supporting you all through your pregnancy journey."

17/11/2025

💜🏡Lisa's story💜🏡

'I opted for a home birth quite late in my pregnancy, at 34 weeks. The lovely community midwife Lottie discussed it as an option since I was low risk. And two weeks later, I had my 36-week routine and homebirth assessment appointment at home with the homebirth team. Fast forward, one week later, and my baby arrived safe and sound – at home!

At 37+2, my waters broke while I was working. I wasn’t sure at first, but midwife Anita came round to check on me and baby and confirmed my waters had indeed broken. I was definitely a bit anxious, as my waters also broken on my first pregnancy, and I ended up being induced in the hospital.

That evening, my partner and I got everything ready (I was not expected to go into labour at 37 weeks so was not one bit organised), and after a good cry and some rest, mild, irregular contractions began overnight. The next morning, with my mum freshly arrived from Ireland, I decided to keep myself busy instead of worrying about labour progressing. I kept busy chatting and prepped dinner for later. As we talked, contractions became more regular.

By mid-afternoon, things intensified, and midwife Kerry arrived around 4pm. Not long after this, I felt things shift. I tried to stay on my yoga ball and focus as best I could on not going into active labour until my toddler was home and settled with my mum. Once she was settled, contractions came much closer together, and I experienced hot flushes and chills between them.

As things progressed quickly, Kerry immediately sprang into action (the second midwife hadn’t arrived yet). I soon had the urge to push, and my baby arrived within about 10-15 minutes of getting into position. Kerry was fantastic. The way she handled everything and coached me through the stronger contractions made such a difference. I didn't have any tears, as she made sure I pushed at the right times. My baby was born at 17:25, and the placenta came not long after, with the cord still attached.'

*Story continued in comments*

15/11/2025

🌟 October Statistics!!! 🌟

In October, we cared for 8 women in labour. We had 7 homebirths, and 1 woman was transferred into hospital during labour and the midwife stayed with her for the birth. 💜

Congratulations to all our families who welcomed their baby in October! 🎉🎃🍁

We have also restarted our coffee mornings, so keep an eye out for the upcoming dates. If you are interested in a homebirth and want to find out more, if you are already planning a homebirth with us, and if you have had a baby with us before - everyone is welcome! This is a great chance to meet the midwives and chat to other parents. ☕️🍰

11/11/2025

✨️☕️Coffee and chat✨️☕️

We can't wait to see everyone tomorrow at our coffee morning

Come along anytime between 0930-1100, we can personally guarantee the cake quality! 😋🍰☕

These mornings are for anyone interested in homebirth, currently being cared for by our team, or if you were previously looked after by the team! 🏡

31/10/2025

🩵🏡Laura's story🩵🏡

'From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted a homebirth. After being introduced to Kerry from the homebirth team, I instantly felt confident that I was making the right decision. Throughout my pregnancy, I met several members of the team and loved how my holistic views on birth were genuinely shared and supported. I always left our visits feeling uplifted and inspired after hearing other women’s beautiful homebirth stories.

At 41 weeks, my waters broke at 11:30p.m. Kerry arrived within 15 minutes of calling, and my contractions started coming thick and fast soon after. While my partner filled the pool downstairs, Kerry supported me in bed, applying pressure to my lower back when I needed it.

Eventually, I made my way down to the pool, where I laboured for a few hours until my contractions began to slow. Kerry encouraged me to get out, have something sugary, and start moving to help things progress. After what felt like a lifetime of pushing with little progress, we began to discuss the possibility of transferring to hospital — and that’s when I knew I had to dig deep if I wanted to have my baby at home!

After lots of walking around (and several spoons of honey later!), my son was born just after sunrise — at 6:26 a.m. on the dining room floor. It turned out his little hand had been pressed against his face,which explained the extra challenge toward the end!

Even in moments of uncertainty, the energy in the house remained calm, and words of encouragement were always there when I needed them.

I look back on my birth with so much joy and admiration for the homebirth team. I felt safe, respected, and completely understood throughout the entire experience. The whole process felt so intimate — a small, caring team always at the end of the phone, home visits before and after birth, and continued breastfeeding support from Donna. I was genuinely sad to be discharged!

I’d do it all again in a heartbeat- In fact,I can’t wait to! It was such an empowering experience — I wanted a low-intervention homebirth, and that’s exactly what I got 💛.'

30/10/2025

Breastfeeding should not hurt💜

Sometimes a little difference in how your baby is feeding can make a big difference to how comfortable it is for you and how easily your baby gets your milk.

An easy acronym for correct positioning is CHINS:

Close - Head free - In line - Nose-to-nipple - Sustainable

If you're struggling, it may help you to come along to one of our drop-in groups where a peer supporter can support you through a feed.

Find our local services on our website:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drop-in-centres-map/

Our peer supporters at National Breastfeeding Helpline UK can also talk you through a feed over the phone or by message - available 24/7 💗

📞0300 100 0212
💬Send a DM

Find more information on positioning and attachment, here:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-information/getting-started-with-breastfeeding/how-to-breastfeed/

[ID: Close. Pull baby in close to your body. No gaps. Head free. No hands on the head, supporting the neck. In line. Make sure baby's body is in a nice line, no twisting or arching. Nose-to-nipple. To ensure a deep latch. Sustainable. Are you and baby comfortable? Will this position be comfortable for the whole feed?]

28/10/2025

✨️☕️Coffee and chat✨️☕️

After popular demand, we are bringing back our homebirth coffee mornings!

These mornings are for anyone interested in homebirth, currently being cared for by our team, or if you were previously looked after by the team! 🏡

Note down the dates in your diary and pop along to meet the team. We can personally guarantee the cake quality! 😋🍰☕

Please do share with your friends who might be interested in homebirth, have been cared for by us, or may be newly pregnant but unsure of their choices yet; all are welcome to come along!

25/10/2025

💫Continuity of care💫

Did you know the Homebirth team provides continuity of care throughout your pregnancy and postnatal period! This means you will see a named midwife throughout your pregnancy👩‍⚕️🫄

We use midwife clinics to see you for your antenatal care and complete a home visit around 34 weeks to complete your birth preferences and homebirth checklists🏡📄

The circle of care continues in your postnatal period with you often seeing your named midwife again for your discharge appointment between day 10 and day 28, for your care to then be handed over to your local health visiting team👣

If you have any questions about homebirth or to find out more, then send us an email on rbft.homebirthteam@nhs.net or ask your community midwife.

*Photo's shared with consent*

Photos of Kerry (homebirth midwife) in her midwife clinic and providing postnatal care.

24/10/2025

The local Children's Centres around Reading have a fantastic range of activities going on over the half term week for parents and their little ones. ✨️🍁🎃

Take a look at the programme above - no need to book but you must be registered with Reading Children's Centres.

22/10/2025

💜💫Gabby's experience💫💜

'Although I had originally planned a home water birth, it unfortunately didn’t happen for various reasons. Even so, the support I received throughout my pregnancy and postpartum period was absolutely fantastic.I really appreciated the flexibility of having most of my appointments at home, and how the team was on call not just for my baby’s needs, but for mine as well. My midwife Anita provided sensitive and knowledgeable care. I was also made to feel safe and seen, which is important, especially as a first-time mum.

I’d also like to mention the one-to-one breastfeeding support I received from Donna, which helped me get off to a good start, and the safe co-sleeping advice from Kerry — which made a world of difference to our nights and my recovery.The care I received from Anita and the wider home birth team was outstanding — the kind of care every woman deserves during such a life-changing time.

Their compassion, commitment, and the fact I make big babies hasn’t put me off the idea of a home birth in the future; they’ve made me feel more hopeful for one next time.'

20/10/2025

🧡🏡Joy's story🧡🏡

'As a first-time mum and a hospital doctor, I had plenty of people and colleagues doubt if I was capable of birthing my baby at home without painkillers. Well, we did it! I went into labour at 41 weeks and had a long, painful early labour, which left me pretty exhausted after 36 hours of contractions, using my TENS and birth comb for about 24 hours of it.

Things finally began progressing then, and I was thrilled to have my named midwife Kerry attend for the first part of my birth. It was finally time to get into the pool then which helped a lot with the pain, but contractions continued thick and fast.

It took another 8 hours for my baby to finally arrive with about 4 hours of pushing - I was completely exhausted by then, and my contractions died right off for a time prompting quiet discussions about transfer, but I’m so grateful to my midwife Joy (who had taken over from Kerry that evening) for believing in me and supporting us to do a little ‘oxytocin reset’ cuddling my partner and resting in bed for a short time to help things ramp back up. I got back in the pool with renewed energy and birthed our (surprise) daughter an hour later, with no tearing! We had a beautiful undisturbed half hour in the pool, then got out to continue our golden hour on the sofa. My partner cut the cord after nearly an hour, and we were all tucked up in bed an hour or so later after the best cup of tea and toast of my life!

My birth was long and hard but I achieved it all with only paracetamol, TENS and a birth comb and I put that down to my amazing birth partners (my partner and my mum) and feeling so safe in the care of the RBH homebirth team. All the midwives respected my wishes to have as natural, hands-off a birth as possible, and Joy was amazing in offering reassurance and support at the right times.'

*Story continued in comments*

Address

Reading
RG15AN

Website

http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/wards-and-services/home-birth-service.htm

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A little about us

Welcome to the RBH Homebirth team page. We're passionate about helping families birth their babies at home, and would love to hear from you. Whether you're committed to home birth, or have never considered it before as an option, this is a place for you.

This site is not always monitored. Please contact your midwife directly if you have any questions relating to your clinical care. For non-urgent enquiries about having a homebirth, please drop us an email at rbft.homebirthteam@nhs.net and one of our lovely midwives will get back to you.