'I had this fantasy in my head'

Published on Friday 12 August 2011 16:22

AFTER giving birth at home while living in Australia, Leanne O'Donnell was keen to repeat the experience when having her second child in Scotland.

The 33-year-old said she was also extremely happy with the birth of her son Archie at her home in Dunfermline in 2009.

But she is now concerned that she may not be able to access this service in Fife in the future, forcing the family to consider staying with relatives elsewhere in Scotland or paying for an independent midwife.

O'Donnell said it seemed natural to want a home birth, in a familiar and relaxed environment.

"When you're not feeling great you just want to be home," she said.

"I had this fantasy birth in my head with water in a big pool and soft lights and music, and it just all kind of happened like that."

O'Donnell, whose older son, Innes, is now three, gave birth to Archie in the pool set up in her dining room by husband John and described the setting as "perfect".

The couple plan to have more children and are worried about home birth services being withdrawn.

"We are wondering, do we need to save up for an independent midwife, or plan to temporarily move to my parents' to have a home birth?

"But that defeats the purpose as you're in somebody else's home.

"I really hope the campaign will turn things around."