Make the best choice for you and your baby for a safe and happy birth.

Hospital Birth

 If you  opt for a hospital birth, you can choose between private, semi-private and  public care. This depends on your financial circumstances and whether you have  medical insurance or not.  

Visit the hospital of your choice and check out its facilities. Consider things  like private room, neonatal unit and facilities for partners on the labour /  delivery ward. 

Find out if the hospital has the same ‘ideals’ that you have about childbirth.  Asking questions such as, do they break your waters or not and the use of  episiotomies. Its also worth checking their policy and practices on foetal  distress, high blood pressure etc. 

No one hospital will provide everything as  you would like it, so its best to take a balanced view and choose what feels  right for you.  

Home Birth 

Consider a home birth as an alternative to hospital. Home birth is not for  everyone and neither is a hospital birth.  

If you find you are even vaguely curious about home birth, I would encourage you  to check it out fully. You may be surprised how easy and stress free it is.  

Talk to a home birth midwife. They are exceptionally special people, who will  answer all your questions and put your mind at ease. You will know immediately  if this is the right choice for you  

As a mother myself, I have had both hospital and home births and for me, home  birth was a very positive experience.  You may find family and friends and in particular the medical profession are a  bit apprehensive about home birth, but don’t let this put you off. 

Contact the Home Births Association of Ireland  This is a voluntary group, founded in 1982 to give information and support to  those considering and opting for home birth.  It publishes leaflets, answers telephone queries and provides lists of midwives. 

The birth of your baby is a very special and rewarding experience and to enjoy  this in the privacy of your own home, with your partner/children for support is  truly a joy.  Consider your living room as the labour ward, music, candles, etc. You have it  just as you like it. Hot baths whenever you want.  Consider also the comfort of getting in to your own bed with your new born, when  it’s all over.  There’s no rush or time constraints, and no intervention with a home birth.  You are the only person giving birth. The midwife doesn’t finish her ‘shift’  until you are safely tucked up in bed with you baby.  

Home birth puts you in control of your labour and birth, while your midwife  guides you through.