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The Southern Trusts home birth team have delivered 104 babies at homes throughout the district since November 2021. The specialist team of midwives have contributed to this region having the highest number of home births in Northern Ireland.
Paula Murray, Lead Midwife and one of four midwives who make up the Birth at Home team said “Birth at Home enables a woman to take ownership of her birth in familiar and relaxed surroundings and the team was set up to support these women who opt to have their baby in their own surroundings.
“We can’t believe that it has been two almost three years from the official launch of our team, it’s been such a joy and privilege to see so many healthy babies being born at home. It’s important for women to give birth where they feel comfortable and being at home is a relaxed environment for many. Supporting a woman’s birth preferences is a high priority.
“Seeing so many women birth at home over the past number of years shows what setting up a dedicated team can achieve and we hope to continue to care for many more women throughout the Southern Trust.”
The Trust held a celebration event on International Home Birth Day (6 June) where many mums shared their own home birth experiences.
Karen Crawford from Banbridge said she couldn’t speak any more highly of the Southern Trust Birth at Home team.
“They empowered me to give me the experience that I had been dreaming of for so long. They gave me so much support to help me make informed decisions regarding induction and waiting as I had gone overdue, so I cannot recommend them highly enough.”
Dad James Quinn from Dungannon also spoke at the event on the experience of birth at home for fathers. “With most births, dads may often feel like they have limited involvement but certainly with birth at home, dads are in the mix of it.
“What I can say about the team is the advice and support and the hugs and the love that they give is invaluable, even if it is just correcting you on making sure that the birthing pool is filled and that is exactly what Paula, Sadie and Andrea and the team did.”
Wendy Clarke, Assistant Director of Midwifery, said “It is really important that we take every opportunity to celebrate homebirths and the benefits they can bring and our celebratory event was a great chance for women who have had homebirths to get together and share their experiences.
“Birth at Home has been an excellent addition to our maternity services within the Southern Trust which has offered a much broader range of options for women, depending on their clinical need.”
