Mum to be? We can help you have baby safely at home

More expectant mothers in south east London will be able to have their babies at home, thanks to the expansion of a local home birth service.

The Riverside Homebirth team, part of maternity services at St Thomas’ Hospital, has extended its home birth service to a wider geographical area and will now provide expert home birth care to pregnant women in London Bridge, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Deptford, Brockley and New Cross.

The team of six midwives advise and support women so that they can give birth in the place that is 'safest' for them, whether this is at home or in hospital.  

Experienced in supporting women having home births, the midwives are also qualified to carry out newborn examinations, an essential assessment that would otherwise require an appointment with a GP or in hospital.

Midwife, Rebecca Brien says:  “For many women giving birth is very straight forward.”

“By building a strong relationship with the woman and giving her the information she needs at every stage of the pregnancy, we are able to help her feel confident, happy and ready to welcome her baby into the world where she feels safest and most comfortable.”

Mira Mackey’s daughter was delivered at home in 2010, with the support of community midwives. She is planning to have her second child, due in October, at home.

She says: “I got to know the team very well and felt incredibly supported throughout the pregnancy. The midwives are so kind and skilled.”

“On the day my baby was born the midwife made it easy for me to concentrate on the labour and, I felt relaxed knowing that she was busy making sure that everything was going according to plan. For me, giving birth at home was the calmest, safest place to be.”