Where to give birth

Where to Give Birth in Devon and Cornwall

What are your birth options in the South West?

You’re pregnant – congratulations! 
Pregnancy is such an exciting time but there is also a lot to consider.

For many families planning their baby’s birth in Devon or Cornwall, choosing the right birth setting is one of the most exciting and empowering steps of the journey. Often, this decision leads them to a particular hospital for their scans and follow-up appointments. But here’s something important to remember: you don’t have to give birth in a hospital if that doesn’t feel right for you.

Ultimately, it’s your body, your baby, and your birth.

Some people feel most comfortable in a hospital setting, while others prefer a birth centre or the calm and familiarity of a home birth. And yes, some even choose to birth without medical assistance, which is known as a freebirth. Although this is legal in the UK, it is not generally recommended.

What matters most is that you feel safe, respected, and supported wherever you give birth. This is your story — and you deserve to experience it in the way that feels right for you.

In Cornwall and Devon, we are very fortunate to have a wonderful mix of supportive hospitals, peaceful midwife-led birth centres, and experienced home birth teams. 

Let’s look at little more at the main options for giving birth in Cornwall and Devon:

  1. Hospital
  2. Birth centre
  3. Home

Hospital births in Cornwall and Devon

If you feel reassured by the knowledge that doctors are nearby or want access to a wider range of pain relief options, a hospital birth might be the right choice. Hospitals in Devon and Cornwall are becoming increasingly supportive of hypnobirthing techniques, encouraging families to personalise their space with music, affirmations, and gentle lighting.

Popular hospital maternity units include:

  • Derriford Hospital (Plymouth, Devon) – Offers 14 delivery rooms and has a room with a pool. They welcome any comfort measures you want to bring along to support you in your birthing journey.
  • Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Devon) – Offers 10 private rooms for giving birth and has a dedicated birthing pool suite, along with supportive and experienced midwives and obstetricians. 
  • Royal Devon (Barnstaple, North Devon) – In their 6 private birthing rooms (2 with birth pools), there are a range of measures to help you feel comfortable and relaxed.  They also have a special midwife-led ‘Broadsands Room’ where birthing women with pregnancies deemed as ‘low-risk’ can labour and birth their baby.
  • Torbay Hospital (Torquay, Devon) – Known for friendly midwives and facilities that welcome active, natural birth preferences. Offer 7 delivery rooms on their labour ward and the ‘Kingsley Suite’ for those with low-risk pregnancies wishing to birth in a pool.
  • Royal Cornwall Hospital (Truro, Cornwall) – Offers birthing pools and midwives experienced in supporting families practising hypnobirthing in Cornwall.

Why this may be right for you:

  • Access to a full range of pain relief (including epidurals)
  • Skilled midwives and obstetric teams available if needed
  • A safe environment for both low- and higher-risk births

Birth Centres in Devon and Cornwall (Midwife-Led Units)

If you’re hoping for a peaceful, natural birth, a midwife-led birth centre is a wonderful option. These centres are designed for comfort, with birthing pools, dimmed lighting, and experienced midwives who trust the natural birth process — perfectly aligned with hypnobirthing in Devon and Cornwall.

Birth centres in the South West include:

Why this may suit you:

  • Calm, low-intervention environment ideal for natural birth
  • Supportive midwives who encourage relaxation and movement
  • Continuity of care with midwives who understand your birth preferences
  • Often access to birthing pools (although like all birth places, these are offered on a first-come, first-served basis)

At birth centres, as well as on a hospital labour ward, you can use gas and air, a warm bath, a birth pool (if available), TENS, Pethidine and any relaxation techniques you’ve learned to support you in labour. However, it is important to be aware that should you wish to have an epidural as a stronger form of pain relief, these are not available at birth centres as they require the presence of an anaesthesiologist to administer the injection. 

Home Birth in Devon and Cornwall

For many hypnobirthing families, there’s no place more relaxing than home. Choosing a home birth in Devon or Cornwall allows you to create a completely personalised, peaceful space filled with comfort, safety, and familiarity.

There are excellent home birth teams who are experienced in supporting hypnobirthing families whether you are planning to give birth in Cornwall or in Devon. They’ll bring all the necessary equipment and calm reassurance, letting you focus on your breathing, mindset, and your baby.

Why you might choose a home birth:

  • You feel safest and most relaxed at home
  • You want to move, eat, and birth freely in your own space
  • You like the idea of not needing to travel anywhere once labour has started
  • You’d like immediate bonding time in your own bed afterwards
Read the positive home birth story of baby William by clicking on the links below:
Mum’s story of William’s home birth
Dad’s story of William’s home birth

Choosing the Right Birth Setting for You

There’s no single “right” place to give birth — the right place is wherever you feel calm, respected, and safe. Whether that’s in a softly lit hospital room in Truro, a cosy midwife-led unit in Devon, or your own living room surrounded by love, you will be able to draw on your hypnobirthing tools and techniques to support you along the way.

Trust your instincts, explore your local options, and remember:

✨ Your birth, your body, your baby — your way. ✨

Other useful links:

Birthrights – https://birthrights.org.uk

Cornwall Maternity Trust – https://maternity.royalcornwallhospitals.nhs.uk

One Devon Maternity Services – https://onedevon.org.uk/our-work/services-and-support/maternity-and-child-birth/