"Maternity Matters"

When I was pregnant with my first baby in 2008-9 I moved to a new area and booked in with the local community midwife team. I was initially asked by both GP receptionist and then the midwife "Which hospital" I wanted to give birth at. Home was not offered as an option. It was some weeks later that I raised the matter and stated that I would like a home birth. My midwife was actually very supportive and was almost as excited about my birth as I was! I have to wonder then, why home was not offered as an option. I researched all of my options and found there was no birth centre in the area either. I have met a number of other women in my area who have told me they've not been offered home as an option and some who even had to hire an independent midwife in order to have a home birth. I read in the Maternity Matters document that a deadline was laid down at the end of 2009 to ensure that 100% of women had a full choice of where to give birth. I think it is not a full choice if home and birth centre are not offered/available/supported.