Answers to Questions About Homebirth

In the United Kingdom home birth is much better known and more widely accepted than in the US.

Angela Horn maintains a website that includes a series of articles that address and discuss the safety issues of homebirth. Here are Angela's words about why the web site was started and is maitained.

"This site is owned and maintained as a public service by Angela Horn. My aims are to support informed choice for parents, and to encourage evidence-based, woman-centred practice for professionals. I hope that helping people to find and use the evidence on birth options will further both aims - which is why this site focuses on published research.I started investigating research on home birth safety in 1996 and established this website in February 1999.

From 2000 to 2003 I was National Home Birth Support Coordinator of the National Childbirth Trust, a voluntary role which involved promoting the home birth choice within the NCT and to the public, and helping home birth support groups in the UK. I was also a member of the Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC) of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, and formerly of Greenwich District Hospital.

I am married to Graham Horn, and am the full-time mother of four sons who were born at home: Lee, born in January 1998, Robert, born in May 2000, Teàrlach, born in December 2002, and Lachlan, born in September 2004. My maiden name was Angela King. "

List of Angela's Topics

Rather than write another essay on homebirth, I am providing the list of the topics she covers. There are links within the topics she discusses. They lead to answers for other questions you may have. There is a lot of information on this site. Hope you find the answers you seek for the decisions you want to make.

The web site may be accessed at Homebirth UK.org/Angela's site.

Here is the list of topics and subtopics she covers. The  subjects are listed on the left side of the page, just click it and it will take you to the subtopics.

• Birth Stories
• Why Homebirth?
• Planning a Homebirth
• But what if...
  • What if you want pain relief?
    What if you had a postpartum haemorrhage?
    What if you needed an assisted delivery - forceps or ventouse?
    What if you need a caesarean?
    What if the cord is around the baby's neck?
    What if there was a cord prolapse?
    What if there is a shoulder dystocia?
    What if your baby needs resuscitation?
    What if your baby dies? How will you feel then?
• You can't have a homebirth because...
  • 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
    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
    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.
• Research
• Homebirth in the UK
• Waterbirth