Where can I give birth on the Fylde Coast?
Eleanor lives in Lytham and supports families across the Fylde Coast and in Preston. She provides antenatal hypnobirthing courses and postnatal trauma support.
Did you know you can choose where to give birth on the Fylde Coast?
Let’s talk about one of the biggest decisions you'll make in pregnancy: where to have your baby.
So many people think you have to give birth at your nearest hospital, but that’s not the case! You can choose to give birth wherever feels right for you. For lots of mums, this is somewhere they feel supports their birth preferences and their mindset.
If you’re based near me in the North West, around Lancashire, the Fylde Coast, or Preston, you’ve got lots of options. Whether you’re planning a calm home birth, a midwife-led water birth, or you feel more reassured knowing there’s medical care just down the corridor, you’ve got some wonderful choices locally.
So how do you decide where to give birth if you live near Preston, Blackpool, St Annes? Let’s look at your choices and weigh up some honest pros and cons, so that you can make an informed decision about giving birth in the right environment for you!
Home Birth in Preston or Fylde
HOME BIRTH IS BEST FOR: Anyone who wants to feel completely relaxed, in their own space, and supported by a midwife or a doula in their home.
If you’ve never considered home birth, before you shut the idea down completely (like I did in my first pregnancy), please bear with me! I want you to know it’s a really valid and safe option. It’s not just for super ‘zen’ mums or people with huge houses and fairy lights everywhere.
Home birth is about being in your comfort zone. If you’ve done a Hypnobirthing Course you’ll know how your environment can literally transform your birth experience. You’re not rushing to hospital, you’re not dealing with bright lights or strangers coming in and out. It’s just you, your birth partner, and a lovely midwife (or two) supporting your body to do what it’s designed to do.
The local NHS midwives will bring gas and air and a full kit with them, and you can hire a birth pool if you fancy; water is an amazing tool for pain relief during labour!
Why should I consider a home birth?
You’re in control of the space and who’s in it
No travelling in labour (or after!)
Lower chance of interventions
Calm, quiet, familiar environment
More likely to have a smoother, more comfortable labour
There’s been some brilliant studies into home birth: why not have a read? Hutton et al (2019) Scarf et al (2019) Quigley et al (2016)
Things to consider for a home birth:
No epidural or advanced pain relief at home (but taking my hypnobirthing course might mean you can learn to cope without…)
If extra support is needed, you’ll need to transfer to hospital
“I’m not allowed a home birth because I’m classed as high risk.”
Yes you are. You are allowed to do whatever feels right for you. It’s your decision. Even if you’re classed as a high risk pregnancy, you have the right to opt for a home birth if you wish.
If you feel that your wishes to have a home birth are not being respected, or you’ve been told you cannot have a home birth due to staff shortages, there is some brilliant advice on the Birth Rights website.
Georgia’s home birth
after a caesarean (HBAC) was
empowering and beautiful
I wanted a completely different experience from my first (EMC) I knew the chances of having a VBAC were much higher at home & untimely I didn’t feel safe being in a hospital environment due to interference, being put on a clock etc & all the intervention!
To begin with I had a lot of fears but I overcame these fears by educating myself and surrounding myself with others who had positive experiences! By the time it came to it, I had zero fears whatsoever, I completely surrendered to the experience & had full trust that my body could do this!
I had such a positive birth BECAUSE I was at home. Nothing comes close to the experience of birthing your baby in your home environment. Feeling so safe, having your home comforts, it made my labour go by so quickly and without too much pain too!
Giving Birth at Chorley Birth Centre
CHORLEY BIRTH CENTRE IS THE BEST MATERNITY UNIT FOR: A calm, midwife-led birth with a homely vibe (and lots of water birth support!). Consider this a middle ground for home birth and hospital birth.
Chorley Birth Centre is such a gem. It’s a standalone midwife-led unit (so no doctors popping in and out) and feels more like a spa than a hospital. There’s soft, dimmed lighting, birth pools in every room, and midwives who are so on board with physiological birth (giving birth naturally).
It’s perfect if you want a gentle, hands-off birth with all the right support, but you’re not sure about birthing at home. If something comes up and you need extra care, they’ll transfer you to Preston Hospital.
Why mums choose to give birth at Chorley Birth Centre
Gorgeous, calm setting
Every room has a birth pool!
Midwives skilled in supporting natural birth
No pressure or rush
Things to think about if giving birth at Chorley Birth Centre
No epidural available here
Only ‘suitable’ if your pregnancy is low risk (by this I mean, you may need to advocate for yourself more creatively if you are classed as ‘high risk’)
Hope’s calm birth at Chorley Birth Centre
“Throughout my antenatal appointments, I always felt exceptionally cared for and truly prioritized by my midwife.
During my birth, the midwives and support staff were incredible, offering immense comfort and support to both me and my partner. After my baby was born, the staff were amazing in assisting with skin-to-skin contact and helping my partner care for our newborn while other team members attended to my needs.
If you're considering a water birth, using hypnobirthing techniques, or simply desire a calm and relaxing birth experience, I highly recommend Chorley Birth Centre.”
The key to being prepared for wherever you choose to give birth?
As you can see, there’s a range of birth centres and consultant-led units across the North West. Where to give birth is just one thing to consider when pregnant. My antenatal courses help you to prepare for every eventuality and understand the rest of the options available to you!
Giving birth at Blackpool Victoria Hospital (Consultant-Led Unit)
BLACKPOOL VICTORIA HOSPITAL IS BEST FOR: Mums who want or need medical options, like epidurals or close monitoring.
Blackpool Hospital is your go-to if you want the full range of pain relief or if your pregnancy needs a bit more medical oversight. It’s a consultant-led unit, so doctors, anaesthetists, and neonatal specialists are on hand 24/7.
It’s not as cosy or personalised as a birth centre, but for many parents, knowing that extra help is close by brings peace of mind. There are birth pools available, but it’s first-come-first-served.
Why mums choose to give birth at Blackpool Victoria Hospital:
Access to all types of pain relief
Full team of specialists if anything’s needed
A safe choice for more complex pregnancies
Things to think about if giving give birth at Blackpool Victoria Hospital:
It’s a more clinical, busy environment
Birth pools are limited
A higher chance of interventions
Laura’s positive birth at Blackpool Victoria Hospital
“When I finally got to delivery, my midwife there was like an angel sent specifically for me. She picked up on my vibe straight away and was like a mini hypnobirthing coach. She was so wonderful! She set up aromatherapy and explained all the scents to us, had low lighting with a galaxy light on, talked me through contractions and was so so positive about how I was doing.
I wanted to try and not have the epidural as I wanted to experience what it felt like. When I wanted pain relief the anaesthesiologist was recommending the epidural. But Emily the midwife, because of how well she got to know me in that short time, recommended remifentanil instead. It just took the edge off the contractions so I still felt it all and experienced the pushing. Which I didn't think I'd be able to do, but she and my husband just believed in me so much It's amazing what we do isn't it!”
Giving birth at Blackpool Birth Centre
BLACKPOOL BIRTH CENTRE IS BEST FOR: A midwife-led, natural birth with the safety net of the hospital nearby.
This one is often overlooked, but it’s such a good middle-ground option. Blackpool Birth Centre is based on the hospital site, but in a separate, more peaceful space run by a wonderful team of midwives.
You’ll still get that calm, undisturbed vibe, with birth pools, soft lighting and a more personalised approach. If you want to go to a birth centre but still want to be near a hospital, this is a great option for you.
Why mums choose to give birth at Blackpool Birth Centre:
Birth pools and private rooms
Calm, quiet atmosphere
Midwife-led care with a hospital nearby
Things to think about if you give birth at Blackpool Birth Centre:
No epidural here (you’d need to transfer)
Only open to low-risk pregnancies *again as I said before, this doesn’t mean its a hard “NO”, I would encourage you to start the conversation and really explore absolute risks.
Demi’s healing vaginal birth after a caesarean (VBAC) at Blackpool Birth Centre
“Despite not having the home birth I envisioned (as there were no midwives to attend), I had the most amazing birth experience at Blackpool Birth Centre. My 2 midwives were supportive of all of my choices and respected my birthing space. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I had the water birth I always dreamed of. The pushing stage was so primal but I felt powerful. It was a healing experience and the most mentally and physically challenging thing I’ve ever done.”
Giving birth at Royal Preston Hospital (Consultant-Led Unit)
ROYAL PRESTON HOSPITAL’S MATERNITY UNIT IS BEST FOR: Anyone who needs extra medical support or wants access to an epidural.
Royal Preston is the main maternity hospital in central Lancashire. It’s consultant-led, so everything you could need medically is right there—pain relief, obstetricians, neonatal care, the lot.
If you’re planning an epidural or there are any complications expected, this is where you’d go. It’s more clinical than the other options, but the care is experienced and thorough.
Why mums choose to give birth at Royal Preston Hospital:
Full access to medical pain relief
Safe choice for high-risk pregnancies
On-site emergency care
Things to think about if you give birth at Royal Preston Hospital:
Not as personalised
Bright lights, more monitoring, a clinical environment
Fewer pools and more chance of intervention
Giving birth at Preston Birth Centre
PRESTON BIRTH CENTRE IS BEST FOR: A calm midwife-led space, within the hospital.
This is a lovely option if you’re hoping for a calm, natural birth but don’t want to be far from medical help. The birth centre is midwife-led, so you’ll be encouraged to move freely, use a pool, and be supported in whatever way feels right for you.
Because it’s inside the main hospital, if anything changes during labour, you’re just a corridor away from the delivery suite.
Why mums choose to give birth at Preston Birth Centre:
Private, peaceful rooms
Supportive of physiological birth
Easy access to extra care if needed
Things to think about if you give birth at Preston Birth Centre:
No epidural available
Only for low-risk pregnancies *you know what I’m going to say…
Where is the best place to give birth on the Fylde Coast?
Wherever is right for you. Know that wherever you choose to give birth, be that at home, in a birth centre, or in hospital, the most important thing is how you feel about your birth and the experience you have. You deserve to feel informed, supported, and confident at every step!
Got questions on more than just where to give birth? I did too!
My hypnobirthing courses are designed to help you explore every option in your birth, not just the location - so do contact me for a chat if you have any questions or want to check availability.
Take some time to look into each option. Ask your midwife what’s available, check the latest stats, and if you can, go for a tour. It makes such a difference just knowing where the entrance is and what the rooms feel like.
Birth isn’t one-size-fits-all. So trust yourself, ask questions, and choose the place that makes you feel safe, strong and unstoppable! How you feel about your birth experience matters and now is the time to prepare!
Thank you so much to the wonderful mums who shared their birth experiences with me. You are amazing!
