Home birth
Information
The Health Service Executive HSE (formerly the health boards) is having difficulty in providing services for home births because of the practice of hospital confinement over the last 30-35 years and the consequent shortage of experienced practitioners in home delivery. Where a woman chooses to have a home birth in Ireland and the HSE cannot provide the service, some areas in the HSE provide a home birth grant towards the cost of contracting the services of a private midwife.
Rules
If you want to avail of the statutory services, you will firstly need to approach your Local Health Office in the HSE. Write to their Community Care Section, informing them of your wish for a home birth, and requesting a list of midwives/doctors who might attend you.
When you make contact with the midwife or doctor of your choice, you will need to ask them to fill out a Form of Application for Maternity Care. This will entitle you to free antenatal, delivery and postnatal services. The HSE will also provide you with a "maternity pack", with all you will need for a home delivery.
Alternatively, you can engage a midwife privately and your antenatal, delivery and postnatal care will be provided by him/her. Where a woman engages the services of a private midwife for the purpose of a domiciliary birth, the HSE may make a contribution towards the costs incurred. For a list of independent midwives, contact the Homebirth Association of Ireland.
In certain circumstances, where a mother opts for a home birth, the HSE will provide a grant of up to €1,270 towards midwifery costs. Some local HSE offices have suspended payment of the home birth grant indefinitely.
How to apply
Write to the Community Care Section of the HSE for your area, or contact an Independent Midwife through the Homebirth Association of Ireland.
Where To Apply
The Homebirth Association of Ireland
1 Lumiera
Rocky Valley Road
Kilmacanogue
Wicklow
Ireland
Tel:+353 (0)1 2761812 or +353 (0)1 8206940
Homepage: http://www.homebirth.ie
Email: homebirth@eircom.net
Language
Related Documents
- Flexible maternity services
An outline of maternity hospitals in Ireland offering more flexible maternity services. - Choices in antenatal care
Outlining the choices in antenatal care in Ireland, combined, private, semi-private and public. - Antenatal classes
Antenatal classes in Ireland are provided by your hospital and help parents prepare for the birth of your baby. Find out more.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.