OVER the last few months many pregnant women have faced turmoil over where they would give birth.

Harwich’s maternity unit was closed to births in March due to staff shortages in Colchester.

In July it returned as an on-demand service with a review set to take place from next month.

But a new option is being offered to mums as they prepare for their lives to change with community based midwife service One to One Midwives.

The NHS approved maternity service provider, which was previously only based in north west England, has seen 3000 babies born since it started in 2011.

The service is completely separate from any of the current services provided by North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and Colchester Hospital Trust.

Chief Executive of One to One Midwives, Joanne Parkington, said: “It is a different service than what is being offered currently.

“I think we can help the situation with midwife lead units. Women who chose to go to midwife led units what to avoid a high risk birth or want a more natural birth.

“Colchester has a home birth rate of three per cent; our home birth rate is 34 per cent.

“We are providing normality and giving woman a choice.

“It gives the woman more comfort and empowers women to make more appropriate choices for them.”