Where Can I Give Birth in Cornwall? Your Complete Guide to Birth Places in Cornwall (and Beyond)
Cornwall birth options map
Choosing where to give birth is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in pregnancy. As an independent midwife specialising in home births in Cornwall, I support families across all birth settings — home, birth centres and hospital labour wards. The right place for you is the one where you feel safest, most supported and most able to birth in your power.
In this guide, we’ll explore all your options across Cornwall, including Royal Cornwall Hospital (Truro) Delivery Suite and Birth Centre, Penrice, Helston, plus nearby Derriford (Plymouth) ,the Exeter Birth Centre and Labour Ward and Barnstaple Maternity Unit.
Whether you’re dreaming of a gentle homebirth or prefer the reassurance of a hospital environment, you can have continuity with me in every setting.
Homebirth in Cornwall
For many families, giving birth at home feels grounding, safe and deeply intuitive. Homebirth offers:
• Privacy and comfort
• Freedom to move, eat, rest and labour in familiar surroundings
• A calm environment that supports physiological birth
• One-to-one care and undivided attention
As your independent midwife, I am the lead clinician at your homebirth. I bring years of experience, emergency skills, equipment and the ability to monitor you and your baby safely throughout labour and birth.
Some of my clients choose to begin labour at home without committing to a final decision. If, at any time, you wish to transfer, I simply come with you and continue your care as an advocate in partnership with NHS staff.
Truro Birth Centre (RCHT)
Located within RCHT but separate from the Delivery Suite, the Truro Birth Centre is a midwife-led unit designed for supporting your birth. It’s a peaceful space with pools and a more home-like feel than a standard hospital.
It’s ideal if you want a natural birth with NHS midwife support but also the reassurance of being close to hospital facilities. As your independent midwife, I maintain continuity as a familiar face within your team, acting as your advocate and guide through your birth.
Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro – Delivery Suite
The consultant-led Delivery Suite at Royal Cornwall Hospital is the main labour ward for Cornwall. It’s the best choice if you need or want immediate access to obstetric, anaesthetic or neonatal care.
As your midwife:
• I advocate for your choices
• I ensure you feel heard and supported
• I provide continuity and calm in a busy environment
• I work collaboratively with NHS midwives and doctors
My clients often comment that having a familiar person with them transforms their hospital experience and ensure they feel able to navigate the hospital system with confidence.
2. Helston Birth Unit
Helston Birth Unit offers low-intervention, midwife-led care for families in West Cornwall. It provides:
• A relaxed, community-based setting
• A warm, friendly team
• Waterbirth options
• A nurturing place for physiological birth
3. Penrice Birth Centre (St Austell)
Penrice is one of Cornwall’s most loved midwife-led birth units. Families appreciate:
• A quiet, homely environment
• Excellent birth pools
• A hands-off, supportive approach
It’s a wonderful option for those in mid-Cornwall looking for a gentle environment outside the main hospital.
4. Derriford Hospital Labour Ward (Plymouth)
If you’re based in South East Cornwall or near the Devon border, you may choose Derriford Hospital. This is a large, consultant-led labour ward with full medical services and specialist teams.
I can support you here as your advocate, especially if you would like continuity through a hospital birth.
5. Exeter Labour Ward and Exeter Birth Centre
Families in North and East Cornwall sometimes choose the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. The Birth Centre offers a midwife-led, low-intervention environment, while the Labour Ward provides full obstetric care.
I maintain strong professional relationships here and can support you through labour and birth in both settings.
6. Barnstaple Maternity Unit
Some families in the North of Cornwall or Bude find that their closest hospital is Barnstaple. There is obstetric led and midwife-led care available including waterbirth. I can support you to give birth here.
Choosing where to give birth: You don’t have to decide now.
One of the biggest benefits of working with an independent midwife is flexibility. Many families prefer to begin labour at home, knowing that they can transfer later if:
• They want pain relief such as an epidural
• Labour becomes more complex
• They feel more comfortable in a hospital environment
I remain with you throughout, offering continuity, reassurance and advocacy so you never feel alone or overwhelmed.
Which Birth Setting In Cornwall Is Right for You?
The best place to give birth is where you feel safest, most supported and most able to surrender into the experience. Home, birth centre, or hospital… all can be empowering positive experiences with the right care.
There is compelling evidence that, for straightforward pregnancies, planning to give birth at home is associated with higher chances of straightforward labour and birth, without additional risk for mum or baby. The majority of my clients book me to guarantee their homebirth is attended by two experienced homebirth specialist midwives… It feels like an exhale to know that you won’t be worrying about staffing on the best day of your life! Other clients invest in care with an independent midwife knowing that they will give birth in hospital but knowing that having their experienced personal midwife to guide their birth in the hospital will provide the support they know will make a difference.
If you’d like help exploring your options, planning for a flexible pathway, or building confidence in your birth choices, I’d love to support you.
Get in touch to book a consultation and explore your birth options in Cornwall with personalised midwifery care.