Home birthing

The Surrey Hills experienced homebirth team support and care for you throughout your pregnancy, birth and first few weeks of parenthood. They provide this service across the Royal Surrey catchment.

The team caseload women who choose to have their baby at home. This means you will have a named midwife who will coordinate all your pregnancy care and they or one of the team will be on call when the time comes to birth your baby.

This option is suitable if you are having an uncomplicated  pregnancy. If you are considering a homebirth and want to know if it is right for you and your baby speak to your Royal Surrey midwife or email rsch.homebirth.referrals@nhs.net.

Update on Home Birth Services across Surrey Heartlands, January 2023

We are pleased to advise that Home Birth Services will be reinstated in Surrey from midday on Thursday 12 January 2023 for those women and birthing people who choose this option, following the temporary suspension of home births in December 2022.

Despite the demand on South East Coast Ambulance services remaining high, we recognise that having a home birth is very important to some people. In the rare instances when an ambulance is required to relay a family to hospital during a home birth, the South East Coast Ambulance Service is not able to guarantee a timely ambulance response on every occasion. This is due to the ongoing pressure on services. Safety is always our top priority and it is important that families are aware of this risk when they are considering a home birth. Midwifery staff will discuss the choices available, and the associated risks, with each family individually to help them make an informed decision about their birth plan.

Home Birth Services will be suspended during periods of industrial action taken by South East Coast Ambulance staff to help ensure the safety of women and birthing people and their babies at these times. You will be informed of these dates for suspensions by the home birth team as we are made aware of them. Currently the next planned period of industrial action following reinstatement of the service is to commence at midnight 22/1/23 until 23.59 23/1/23.

If you have any queries about your individual care and support please talk to your midwife in the Surrey Hills home birth team who will arrange a senior midwife to support you if required.