'It's just about choice': public home birth program a win for Maitland mums

Previously, those wishing to give birth in the comfort of their own home in Maitland would have to fork out thousands for a private midwife, or go to the hospital even if it's not their preference.

Maitland Hospital is part of a new pilot program offering a public home birthing service for eligible low-risk women as part of the Maitland Midwifery Group Practice.

Woodberry mother Keira Spencer has been vocal about the demand for a public home birth program in Maitland.

It has been more than a year since she released a petition calling for Hunter New England Health to introduce the program, and she has been blown away by the response.

"I'm still in disbelief," she said.

"Honestly, I think it's been very emotional, purely because I've had so many women reach out to me, personally thanking me, which to me I didn't do anything, I just said that this is what we wanted."

While pregnant with her two-year-old Teddy and living in Chisholm, Keira considered having a home birth and reached out to Belmont Hospital, as she had heard East Maitland suburbs were covered by Belmont's home birth program.

But she found out because of zoning changes East Maitland was no longer in Belmont's zone, and Maitland Hospital didn't have a home birth program.

"I was so frustrated because I thought I'm literally just like 10 minutes in the wrong direction," she said.

"Even here (in Woodberry), Newcastle is Tarro right, I only have to drive two minutes down the road to be able to birth with Belmont because I had a friend who birthed with Belmont in Tarro, but because Woodberry is the Maitland LGA you can't because it's just part of the way it's zoned.

"I was asking so then why doesn't Maitland have it then? I kind of thought that's not really good enough."

Keira was involved by the health district throughout the process, and was invited to be a part of the working group that began the planning.

A mother of two, Keira said it's all about giving women a choice.

"I'm very aware that home birth is not for everyone, but at the moment the ones who want to do it don't have that choice, and that was exactly what it was for me," she said.

"I couldn't just make four to $6000 magically appear to have my baby when I could have him for free at the hospital, even if that wasn't my first preferences.

"If they've had a traumatic first birth, a lot of women are seeking home birth as an option for their second. At the end of the day, it's just about choice."

Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said women deserve to give birth in the place where they feel most safe, supported and comfortable.

"For many, that place is their home," she said.

"This new public home birth program will give women across Maitland and the Hunter region greater choice, allowing them to have the births they want and deserve."

Maitland Hospital has developed the new home birth pilot program in close collaboration with the Women's Health and Maternity (WHAM) Network and following extensive consultation with the community to ensure it is safe, sustainable and meets the needs of the community.

The model of care is in line with the NSW Health Guideline for Public Homebirth Services and will have strict oversight and eligibility criteria requirements governed by Hunter New England Local Health District, including: