Plans to encourage women to have babies at home have been celebrated by a childbirth charity and deemed as a "big step forward".
Nonetheless, as NHS trusts plug huge deficits by cutting maternity care, many have doubts as to whether such a choice should be offered at the present.
The Department of Health would like to put an end to the assumption that the ideal place for women to have babies is at hospital .
Pregnant women are to be given more choice with regard to giving birth in hospital, in a birthing centre or in their home.
The National Childbirth Trust stated that women are often put off from considering a home birth. It would certainly open up possibilities for women.
Critics have pointed out that the shortage of midwives means that the NHS is not as able in the provision of these choices to pregnant women as it could be.
Health officials of course affirm that if a woman has any medical complications, then of course she would be encouraged to give birth in hospital.
The Department of Health is of course committed to offering women the choice of how, where and with what pain relief they give birth.
