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Hospital maternity units

Hospitals offer access to specialist services and special baby care units. Midwives will look after your partner throughout their labour, while highly skilled doctors and state-of-the-art equipment are on hand should your partner or your baby need help.

The medical reassurance that hospitals provide should give you and your partner peace of mind, however, they can sometimes feel a little formal and impersonal. For example, the rules might be more restrictive than at a midwifery unit or birth centre.

Facilities and options differ from hospital to hospital, so talk to your midwife, doctor and friends for advice and, where possible, tour the maternity facilities and ask what you might need to pack in your hospital bag.
 

Midwifery units and birth centres

You can choose a midwifery unit or birth centre if your partner’s pregnancy is low-risk and they haven’t previously had a caesarean section or complicated labour.

This option can feel less clinical and more like home than a hospital. Your partner will probably have already met the midwife during their pregnancy and might have access to a birthing pool. Your partner and baby could also be discharged much sooner than if they had a hospital birth and can receive follow-up care at home.

However, your partner probably won’t have access to an epidural and will be transferred to a hospital if there are complications during labour.
 

Having a home birth

The idea of giving birth in the familiar and comforting environment of your home might be attractive. It requires some planning and the decision must be supported by a midwife, obstetrician or a doctor with specialised training. In addition, it’s only an option if your partner’s pregnancy is low-risk, they haven’t previously had a complicated labour and they aren’t expecting twins.

As with a midwifery unit or birth centre, your partner won’t have access to an epidural and will be transferred to a hospital if there are complications during labour.