Arranging a homebirth

Arranging a homebirth is a matter of deciding soon enough. There are simply not enough midwives or places on schemes to go round. You need to have decided by 6 weeks at the latest – earlier for some midwives and some times of the year and some hospital based schemes. Find a midwife who practices in your area and call her up. Ask to be put on her books and wait for the first visit. Once your midwife accepts you – you will have to notify the director of public health nursing in your local area that you intend to have your baby at home. She will send you out a home birth pack for you and your midwife to fill in and this will enable your midwife to be paid by the HSE.
If you decide that you want to avail of a hospital scheme – you need to call the scheme manager and fill out the appropriate paperwork. If you are eligible, you will be accepted on the scheme. You will be treated as a public hospital patient and do not have to inform the director of public health nursing. If at any point you do not become eligible for the scheme you may still be eligible to have your baby in the DOMINO scheme with the same midwives (Holles St)
The Homebirth Association will be happy to discuss your options with you and supply whatever information the Association may have, contact Marguerite Hannon on 090-649-3596. Remember, you do not need permission from your doctor, an obstetrician the Health Service Executive or anyone else to have your baby at home.