BATH HOME BIRTH GROUP
Are you expecting a baby in the Bath, Wiltshire or Somerset area? Are you considering home birth as an option? Then come and join us!
I have run this group for over 12 years now. We have moved from monthly meet ups in a local hall, to now being a supportive WhatsApp group for sharing stories, equipment and support and a monthly online meeting to hear a gorgeous birth story and ask plenty of questions. It’s the most wonderfully supportive space and it’s an honour to hear poeple’s stories, how the community has helped them, and the friendships made as well. I also have several birth pools we have been given over the years, that I loan out to local families for free. If you’d like to find out more about the group, borrowing a pool, or home birth in general, then please send me an email.
WHAT WE DO
WHATSAPP COMMUNITY
Our Whatsapp community is supportive, friendly and inclusive. It’s made up of families who have had home births in the local Bath and Wiltshire area and those who are planning a home birth too. Although I admin and contribute to the group, the real joy is in seeing the beautiful support that families show to one another. From digging out research on a particular question that has come up, to circulating towels and other equipment, from baby news, to beautiful support and sharing, this group has got you covered! I absolutely love this community and the stories that come out of it. Pop me a message if you’d like to join. We would love to have you there!
MONTHLY ONLINE AND IN PERSON SESSIONS
Whilst i really miss in person meet ups, sometimes online meets can really have a place. Many of you have older children to juggle, plus our wonderful Hummingbird community team also offer a monthly in person meet up. Not to mention that we support families having home births from Chippenham to Radstock, from Malmesbury to Frome and beyond. So for that reason, and online meet gives more people the chance to attend, and also the added bonus that you can come along in your Pyjamas or listen in while you put your toddler to bed.
We always start with introductions and then have the chance to listen to a wonderful local home birth story, after which there’s plenty of time to ask questions to myself and the group. Sessions usually run on a Thursday or Sunday evening mid month. I pop the next dates here, on our whatsapp group and on social media too.
Next meeting Sunday 22nd March 6pm
BORROW A BIRTH POOL
We have very kindly been give a handful of birth pools over the years. I am trying to get the most out of them that I can, so I offer a free service to local families who would like to experience the many benefits of using a birth pool in labour. This does mean that most pools have had a puncture repair here and there and come with varying amounts of kit. I simply facilitate the passing around of the pools and ask that you clean the pool ready for its next family and let me know of any significant issues with the pool or kit if you had any. All the pools are “Birth pool in a Box” so spare kit can be brought directly from them, I have one mini and the rest are regular sized. Measurements can be found here.
As this is an informal process and pools are passed from family to family, i cannot be held responsible for any issues with the pools and can highly recommend Gentle Births and Optimum Doula should you wish to hire a pool and all the kit.
Kit to consider:
Liner, Hose, Tap adapters, Submersible water pump. Air pump, cover, sieve, bucket, thermometer.
See my Home birth blog post for more info on what you might need for your home birth.