Home birth journey starts in Busselton

A service to help women to give birth at home and have the same midwife through their pregnancy could soon be rolled out across Busselton.

After a 13-year struggle to get established, Birth Choices’ Bunbury program finally celebrated its first birth in January this year.

Newborn Indiana Dolan was the program’s first offspring, born to mother Carly Dolan.

Group president Bianca Hart told the Times she was optimistic Busselton would be next.

Mrs Hart said freedom of choice and continuity of care were at the core of the Birth Choices program.

“The South West has one of the highest home birth rates in Australia. It’s not for everybody, but we believe if a woman decides it’s what she wants she should be able to have that option,” she said.

“Expectant mums are vulnerable and it’s important they have access to the same midwife throughout their pregnancy and during the birth to make them more comfortable.

“We’re looking at funding now and will work with the Department of Health to get a program up and running in Busselton within two years.”

Birth Choices started in 2000, but it took more than a decade of false starts, meetings with politicians and public rallies before it could assist pregnant women in Bunbury six months ago.

Until the arrival of the Busselton service, the group continues to increase women’s knowledge of birth choices with meetings on the first Thursday of each month from 9.30am at Peppi Cafe at the Busselton Community Garden.

New mother Mrs Dolan made history last December when she became the first person to give birth under the program at home in Vasse Newtown.

She told the Times with a home birth you still need to be under the care of a doctor and hers was supportive of her decision during what was classed as a low-risk pregnancy.

“Having the same midwife throughout my pregnancy and birth was amazing, I couldn’t have felt better supported,” she said.

For more information about Birth Choices call Bianca Hart on 0418 933 776.