Are you a good candidate for home birth? The reasons below are sometimes given to suggest that a woman should not plan home birth. Follow the links to assess the evidence for yourself, and to decide if home birth is right for you.
* This is your first baby
* You have had too many children (grand multipara)
* You are too young
* You are too old
* Your home is unsuitable
* You had forceps or ventouse to assist your last baby's birth
* You have a previous bad tear or episiotomy
* You have a previous postpartum haemorrhage (heavy bleeding after birth)
* You have had a previous caesarean section
* Your Haemoglobin count is low (anaemia, iron deficiency)
* You have Group B Strep (GBS, Group B Streptococcus, Haemolytic Beta Strep)
* You have low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia)
* You have high platelet levels
* You are on anticoagulants or have a previous DVT
* You have diabetes - gestational diabetes OR insulin-dependent diabetes.
* You may be expecting a small baby
* You may be expecting a big baby
* Your pelvis may be too small
* You are too big / heavy / overweight
* You are having twins
* Baby is breech
* You have pre-eclampsia / high blood pressure
* You have asthma
* You have Multiple Sclerosis
* You have ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
* You have had surgery on your cervix (eg laser surgery, cone biopsy)
* You have an abnormal uterus, eg bicornuate
* You have Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) - painful pelvic joints
* Your baby is overdue/late/postdates
* Your baby is too early; we only do homebirths from 38 weeks.
* Your waters have been broken for 24 hours
* There is meconium in your waters
* You have mental health issues
* Your baby has a suspected abnormality including kidney problems, or cleft lip/palate.
* Your baby's head is too high - it is not engaged.
* You have a thyroid problem - hypothyroidism
* You have Obstetric Cholestasis (Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy)
* Noone does home births in your area
* There is a shortage of midwives in your area