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Expectant mums left 'uneasy' over homebirth future

Kate Bradbrook & Alex Pope
BBC News, Bedfordshire
Kate Bradbrook/BBC Alex McCarthy in her home, wearing a white top, black dress, a necklace, with a green stone is around her neck, she is smiling and looking at the camera, with long dark hair. She is sitting on a wooden chair, with another wooden chair to her right. There is a window, with blinds on it, behind her, and a white door, that is open.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Alex McCarthy had her first birth in hospital, which left her feeling "out of control"

An expectant mother has said she feels "uneasy" and worried that a hospital led homebirth service might end as it remains "under review".

Alex McCarthy, from Kempston, Bedfordshire, at 28 weeks pregnant, said she was hoping to give birth at home, and was left unable to plan and "sad that I might miss out on an experience that was important to me".

Bedford Hospital said its Blossom Homebirth service was put under review for three months, due to staff shortages, but it has now been extended for a second time, to the end of March.

Emma Hardwick, director of midwifery at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said "care will not be compromised", while the review continues.

In October, the hospital said it put its homebirth service "under review due to significant staffing challenges" and it was extended to the end of December, and then the end of March, it said.

Emma Dakers-Black Emma Dakers-Black looking at the camera, and smiling, she has long hair tied up, is wearing a cream jumper, with a black top underneath and is in front of a wall. She has a nose stud. Emma Dakers-Black
Emma Dakers-Black has been told that the community midwife team does not operate between 17:00 and 20:00

Emma Dakers-Black, from Shefford, is expecting her second child in April and said she gets different messages from each person she speaks to.

She has been told homebirths will be passed onto community midwives "but no one seems to be making a plan about how it will work".

"I just want to have the choice to have the next baby at home and have the confidence my choice will be met at my time of need", she added.

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Two women sitting on the floor of a house, looking at a child on its front, on an activity mat. The woman on the right has her hand to her face, the woman on the left is smiling and looking at the child. They are both wearing dark clothing. They are all sitting on a dark rug. There are doors behind them. Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Amy Simpson was Charlie Hawksworth's midwife when she gave birth to her child at home

Ms McCarthy said: "There is a massive air of uncertainty, I was hoping for a homebirth but that decision could be taken away at any time.

"What's important, as a women who is preparing to have a baby, is to feel safe, you build relationships with your midwife and knowing that might not happen is uneasy and worrying.

"The best place for me is to be a home, in a calming and comfortable environment," she added.

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Amy Simpson sitting on a sofa, looking at the camera, with long dark hair, wearing a grey top, with a black watch on her wrist. The sofa is dark and the walls are grey.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Amy Simpson started working for the Blossom homebirth team in April 2023 and left in October 2024

Amy Simpson, a former midwife with Blossom, left in October 2024.

When she started she said there were seven midwives, running a 24-hour service, but that number reduced to four part-time midwives and the team "struggled to cover the service".

She decided to resign when she was put on call three times a week.

"When I was on the team, we gave women a really good service and it was an asset to the hospital, it had a really good reputation, it had good feedback and good outcomes - the trust's home birth rate was higher than the average.

"I feel sad it could come to an end. If it's not broken, there's no need to fix it, it should stay, they need to recruit more midwives", she said.

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Charlie Hawksworth holding Roman, who has a toy in his mouth and a grey top on. Charlie is smiling, with her head slightly tilted to the left. They are are in a room with a picture on the wall and doors behind her. Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Charlie Hawksworth's third child, Roman, was born at home in July

Charlie Hawksworth, from Wootton, had an elected homebirth for her third child.

She believes it is "an unfair situation that the choice could be taken away".

"If you decide you want a homebirth, you should absolutely be able to have one."

She hopes the hospital will be able to restructure so it can continue.

Ms Hardwick said the decision had "not been taken lightly and reflects our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and equity in maternity care".

She said it would be thoroughly evaluating the service and while the review takes place "care will not be compromised".

Homebirths were still being offered and anyone "under the care of the Blossom Homebirth team will be supported by community midwives", she added.

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