Home birth advocate says Cessnock mums need to be aware of birth options

This week (October 25-31) is Homebirth Awareness Week, and Ms Grainger, who has given birth twice at home, said women need to be mindful of the options that are available.

“As a woman in the birth field I often talk to local mums about their experiences travelling to Maitland and Newcastle in labour or their concerns of not making it, or even the dismay they feel at scheduled inductions being their only option to avoid a born en-route baby,” she said.

“Local women shouldn’t discredit home birth with an experienced, qualified midwife.”

Home birth is available for low-risk pregnancies, with certain guidelines to be met.

Ms Grainger’s first son, Jace, was born at Scone Hospital in 2006. Second son Jai was born at the family’s Lemon Tree Passage home in 2008 – a planned homebirth under the publicly-funded homebirth program operating at Belmont Birth Services.

“My first labour was quick; I didn’t want a roadside birth for the second,” she said.

Ms Grainger and her husband Scott welcomed their daughter Jade at their Abernethy home in March this year.

“Unfortunately the midwife did not make it – but we were well-prepared for this and baby arrived 10 minutes after her brothers got home from school in a beautiful, relaxed and calm environment of our bedroom,” she said.

Cessnock Hospital’s maternity ward closed in May 2003, and there have been a number of local women give birth in ambulances, by the side of the road, or at home in the years since.

With the distance from Maitland and John Hunter Hospitals in mind, Ms Grainger said it is worthwhile for parents-to-be to assess all of their options.

“If a baby’s coming, it’s coming,” she said.

“Even if you’re not comfortable with home birth, it’s good to have a Plan B in case it does come.

“You can’t make a decision unless you remove the fear.

“But everyone’s choices will be different.”​