Just as Women are to be Given the Right to Have a Caesarean so their Right to have a Home Birth Must be Upheld!
Countless women in the UK are denied their right to give birth at home with an NHS midwife, with whom they have already met and formed a relationship with, despite this being contrary to the Department of Health’s policy. This national scandal continues due to a grey area existing in government legislation that allows NHS trusts to avoid their duty of care to mothers in labour and bully them into giving birth in hospitals. This is despite the fact that the evidence proves that women who give birth at home are less likely to need drugs for pain relief, need inducing or have a caesarean sections and are more likely to have a satisfying birthing experience and succeed in breast-feeding their babies. Home births also cost the NHS around one third of the cost of hospital births yet only 2.7% of women in the UK give birth at home.
We the undersigned believe that women should have an absolute, non-negotiable right to give birth at home with the support of an NHS midwife and NHS trusts should be legally obliged to provide such services. We therefore call for the following immediate action to be taken to address this scandal and ensure that the right of women to give birth at home is upheld
1. A community based, women focused, midwife service should be established which provides continuity in care and support for mothers to make their own birthing choices.
2. A culture change among doctors and politicians away from the view that giving birth at home is dangerous towards one that acknowledges the wide-ranging benefits of home birthing.
3. A pledge from Government to regulate every Local Heath Authority in order to ensure that every labouring woman will have a midwife in attendance and that, if desired, this should be at their home.
In order to make this campaign have the impact that is needed we need YOU to help us spread the word. Please help uphold women’s right to a home birth by:
- Joining our Facebook Group and sharing it with all of your friends – http://www.facebook.com/groups/182589368492300/
- Write a letter to your MP - Find out the details of your local MP here– http://www.theyworkforyou.com/
Go to http://www.aims.org.uk/ to find details of template letter to send
- Donate funds to help AIMS Campaign for these changes - https://www.paypal.com/en_GB/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif
- Find out more about home birthing and share ideas and information with your friends and families – http://www.aims.org.uk/
