When Lisa Spelling fell pregnant she was in good health generally but her weight meant that she ticked the “high risk” box when it came to giving birth to her baby.

She says this meant she did not feel fully supported in her decision to have a natural home birth with minimal interventions.

Lisa, 34, says: “When I first registered with my midwife at my GP surgery, I was told my increased BodyMass Indexmeant I’d ticked the ‘high risk’ box on the forms.

“It was explained to me thatmy pregnancywould be under consultant-led care and I would have to birth in the labour ward at the hospital, which I really did not want.”

When Lisa was assessed by a hospital consultant they found she was in good health and put her back under midwife care.

But she says her wish to give birth at home wasmet with some concern bymidwives.

She says: “At one appointment, I wanted to discuss howwe arranged havingamidwife for a home birth, but instead the midwife told me I was being very irresponsible choosing a home birth and spent the next 20 minutes lecturing me on the risks I was taking.”

Lisa discovered a service called One to One Midwives while at a baby event. The free service is funded by the Government and gives women another choice when it comes to their pregnancy, birth and post-natal care.

She decided to self-refer to One to One Midwives when she was 35 weeks pregnant.

Lisa says: “It might sound quite dramatic, but speaking to One to One Midwives I felt my world change. I had finally found a group of women who understood how I felt and supported the way I wanted to give birth.”

Lisa had a visit from her midwife Renee Hall to discuss her birthing options.

She says: “Even though we only had a few weeks together before my birth, Renee and I were able to formagreat relationship.

“She gave me all the information for different choices, explained all the pros and cons, and discussed the options with me before supporting me in whatever choice I made.”

As her pregnancy progressed, Lisa and her husband Chris started to lean towards having a home birth.

She says: “I had always wanted a home birth, but initiallymy husband wanted us to be in the hospital as he felt this was a safer option. As a compromise, we initially agreed to use a midwife-led unit.

“However, as our time with our hypno-birthing instructor went on and we watched clips of ladies giving birth using hypno-birthing techniques and learnt about the wonder drug Oxytocin which we produce naturally in our bodies, we grew in confidence.

“My husband became more relaxed about the labour and saw the best place for me to give birth was in an environment where I felt calm, safe and relaxed.”

Renee conducted a full risk assessment with Lisa and she got to meet Renee’s midwife “buddy”

Tess Cunningham, whowould accompany her during Lisa’s labour.

Lisa says: “It meant I knew I wouldn’t have a complete stranger walking into my house.

By the time my labour came around, Renee and Tess knewme and my husband, and knewhow, what, when, where and who I wanted during my labour.”

Lisa gave birth to Ella-Rose on December 20, 2014, at home with her husband.

She says: “I am looking forward to telling Ella-Rose about how she was born into this world, while sitting on the bed in the room she born in, and about the fabulous ladies who helped mummy do it.”

One To One Midwives is an independent midwifery company founded by Joanne Parkington, a midwife in Birkenhead.

The company signed a contract to provide midwifery services with NHS Wirral in November 2011 and the service saw a 33 per cent home birth rate, compared to the national average of two per cent. It is currently recruiting for midwives in Essex. To register your interest, email rosie.ferguson@121midwives.co.uk or call 0330 330 9121.

For more information, visit onetoonemidwives.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter.