Meet Baby Kleo - the first baby to be born when UHDB's home birth service reopened in October
A mum of three who was the first person to use the UHDB home birth service after it reopened in October, has praised the community midwives who empowered her and gave her a 'positive, personal birthing experience' in her own home.
Laura Knighton, 31, who lives in Ilkeston, had her heart set on a home birth when she found out she was expecting her third baby, however, at that time, the home birth service was still suspended due to staffing challenges which started during the pandemic.
As part of the ongoing commitment to improve maternity and neonatal services at UHDB the service reopened in October 2024 after successfully recruiting more midwives to deliver a safe and sustainable home birth service, offering more birth choice for women across Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
For Laura, this was 'perfect timing' and by having a home birth she was able to have the 'birth experience of her dreams.' She said: "I was ecstatic to be able to have a home birth and the experience was amazing. I understand some people might want more support, and will prefer a hospital setting, but I feel like we had extra hours as a family unit because we had a home birth and I had the experience I wanted and that meant so much to me."
Laura opted to have a home birth after her second labour happened really quickly with her daughter Effy, who is now two.
She said: "Effy was born within two and a half hours of labour starting so I hoped a home birth would be more relaxing, and alleviate the stress of having to get to the hospital and sort arrangements out for my two older children.
"I spoke to my midwife very early on to express my wishes and I felt really supported throughout."
Laura gave birth to daughter Kleo, who weighed eight pounds and 11 ounces, on 20 October 2024, at her home, with her husband Aaron by her side.
Laura, who is also mum to Ruby, 13, said she felt reassured throughout the labour and described the aftercare experience as 'the best', saying she felt able to begin life as a family of five immediately after Kleo was born, safe at home with her comforts.
During a home birth, two midwives attend the home setting and provide one to one care to women and babies during labour and birth. They are in regular communication with the maternity service based inside the hospital and record regular observations on BadgerNet, which is an electronic patient record system that means the maternity team inside the hospital can see real time data about mum and baby and offer additional support.
Laura said: "Throughout the labour I was really reassured knowing the midwives were checking in with the hospital every four hours, it was an extra level of care and they were being supported to support me - it was a real team effort and it felt so empowering.
"Giving birth at home was a unique experience and post-birth was amazing because I was able to have my own shower and have that bond with my baby straight away. The midwives didn’t interfere, they just made sure I was comfortable.
"I would urge anyone who is pregnant to consider their options and have a conversation with the home birthing team because the support is there, and I couldn’t have asked for a better birthing experience."
Since the home birth service was reintroduced, 21 babies have been born at home.
Olivia Swaddle, Community Midwife, was involved in the home birth and said it was a really positive birth experience for all involved. She said: "It was a pleasure to be involved and to be able to support Laura to have baby Kleo at home. There have been lots of improvements and changes since we last offered the home birth service so it was great to see how our new digital system BadgerNet works when providing care at a home birth and how it helped us to keep in touch with the Birth Centre at Royal Derby Hospital and receive support from them while out in the community."
Sarah Noble, Director of Midwifery, said: "Our ongoing Maternity and Neonatal Improvement Programme is all about giving a better, safer and more personalised birth experience to all women, birthing people and babies in our care.
"Patient safety is our priority and alongside the big improvements we are making to our services, we have recruited and trained more midwives meaning our service is now one of the best staffed in the region.
"It was really important to me to reinstate this service and I am so pleased to hear stories from people like Laura, who have been supported to have their birth preferences met."