Home Birth

As the rate of homebirth increases in the UK, this important new book offers a basic, practical guide for anyone involved in the planning, resourcing and facilitation of safe and respectful birth at home.

Blending both contemporary academic and clinical practice, this textbook covers the whole scope of home birth practice, from antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care, as well as management of emergencies at home and practical advice for managing transfer.

Facilitating a safe home birth requires a robust multidisciplinary team approach. Whatever your role in planning or attending a birth at home, and whether you are a student, practising midwife, paramedic or obstetrician, this resource will have something for you.

• • Covers the whole scope of home birth practice, for each member the multidisciplinary team

• • Written by leading experts from diverse backgrounds including midwives, paramedics, obstetricians and neonatal nurses from clinical practice, academia and education

• • Presents balanced and unbiased contemporary evidence supporting birth at home

• • Discusses effective care planning from developing a homebirth services, practical resources and skills, equipment planning and geographical considerations

• • Covers important topics within midwifery including the rise of ‘freebirthing’, multidisciplinary team working and the care of women with complex biopsychosocial needs or from underrepresented communities

• • Clearly identifies roles and responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team

• Suitable for midwifery students embarking on a home birth placement