Homebirth Emergencies Workshop

This workshop is suitable for anyone who attends homebirths and would like to know how to support the woman or person giving birth if an emergency situation were to happen. It is also suitable for those planning a homebirth and wish to learn more about emergency situations and how these are managed at home.

Details of My Workshop on 24th January 2026

In this workshop I will share information about unexpected emergency situations in birth and how to stay calm whilst waiting for a midwife or paramedic to attend if your midwife is not with you yet.

Unexpected emergencies are uncommon after a low-risk pregnancy and birth at full term. However, emergency situations can, and do, sometimes happen without any warning. The attendance of a midwife at birth can usually make birth safer in these circumstances, but sometimes the baby might arrive before the midwife after a fast labour or because homebirth services have been withdrawn. Other families may have made the intentional decision to give birth without a midwife.

In all of these circumstances it makes sense to prepare for the unexpected, as well as the much greater chance that birth will be straightforward. I advise all expectant parents and birth partners to take a baby and child first-aid course prior to giving birth, because they will probably not have time after birth, and first aid skills can be useful in situations which are specific to birth, and the first few hours after.

My workshop will give you information on how to recognise emergencies in childbirth, and act quickly to prevent worsening of the situation whilst awaiting help from emergency services.

Topics

Cord around baby’s neck

Helping baby breathe

Heavy blood loss after birth

Shoulder dystocia

Unexpected breech birth

Cord prolapse

Emergency transfer to hospital

Date and time

4thth January 2026. 10 am to 4pm

Refreshments provided but please bring your own lunch.

Venue 

May Hill Scout Hut, Forest of dean

Workshop cost

 £75

My bio

Joy was a Registered Midwife for 21 years and registered nurse for 20 years. She worked in consultant led labour wards, birth centres and in client’s homes for 16 years as an independent midwife.

She is now a Perinatal Consultant and Birthkeeper. She has taught childbirth education classes since training with the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) in 2002. Her services include private consultations for Birth planning, Birth debriefing, VBAC, and Breech birth planning. She specialises in supporting families whose previous birth experiences have been traumatic and caring for those who have suffered adverse events in childhood, or as an adult.

As an Independent midwife she learnt breech birth skills from Mary Cronk MBE, worked with her for 5 years, and taught breech skills with her at universities and conferences nationwide. She has also learnt from other midwifery greats like Ina May Gaskin at The Farm in Tennessee, from Gail Tully in her Spinning babies and Shoulder dystocia workshops, Jane Hardwicke-Collings shamanic midwifery training, and Integrative Baby Therapy from Matthew Appleton.

Now retired from Midwifery practice she teaches midwives, doulas, parents, and sometimes even doctors worldwide.

Please contact me if you need further details.

Kind regards,

Joy Horner

 Email joy@birthjoy.co.uk

Phone 07939247462