Find the right place to give birth
Browse units
England
Rest of the UK
Maternity options
- Labour ward
  In the maternity unit of a hospital, with medical facilities and doctors on hand if you need them.
- Birth centre
  A more homely environment led by midwives, where the focus is on birth without medical intervention.
- Home birth
  Two midwives come to your home to support you during labour and as you give birth.
Advice
Categories
Further information
Close menu

Compare your maternity options

In the UK, you can generally choose to give birth in a labour ward, birth centre or at home. Explore the differences between the options for where to give birth.

What is it?
Who will care for me?
What pain relief is available?
Can I have a water birth?
What if I need medical help?
How safe is it for babies of healthy, low risk women?

	Labour ward	Birth centre	Home birth
What is it?	In the maternity unit of a hospital, with medical facilities and doctors on hand if you need them.	A more homely environment led by midwives, where the focus is on birth without medical intervention.	Two midwives come to your home to support you during labour and as you give birth.
Who will care for me?	You’ll be looked after by midwives, and doctors will be there if you need them.	Midwives will care for you	Midwives will care for you
What pain relief is available?	Epidural Gas and air Natural methods such as massage Pethidine, diamorphine or other opioid drugs Tens Machine	Gas and air Natural methods such as massage Pethidine, diamorphine or other opioid drugs are sometimes available Tens Machine	Gas and air Tens Machine Natural methods such as massage
Can I have a water birth?	Birth pools might be available - search for your unit to find out	Birth pools are usually available – look up a unit to see how many it has	You can hire or buy a birth pool to use
What if I need medical help?	Doctors and neonatal specialists are available, and you can have a caesarean if you need one.	From a freestanding birth centre you’ll be taken to hospital in an ambulance. If you're in an alongside birth centre, you'll be moved within the hospital.	You'll be taken to hospital in an ambulance and your midwife will come with you.
How safe is it for babies of healthy, low risk women?	As safe as planning birth in a birth centre	As safe as planning birth in a labour ward	As safe as planning birth in a labour ward or a birth centre for those who have given birth before. For first-time mums, there’s a small increase in risk to the baby.
	Find out more about having a baby in a labour ward	Find out more about having a baby in a birth centre.	Find out more about having a home birth