A MUM has given birth to her fourth child at home in 10 years — supported by the same midwives for each delivery.

Sharon Williams’ baby, Miles, was born five weeks ago at her home in Rosebank Close, Ainsworth.

She also opted for home births for three of her other children: Guy, aged 10, Lola, aged six, and Frazer, aged three.

And each baby was delivered by the same midwives — Mary Pitt and Anna Cooper.

Mrs Williams said: “My midwives know my history and it’s been great to have the same ones.

“When you go to hospital you see a different midwife every time and it knocked my confidence having to explain everything over and over again.” Her two oldest children — Daniel, aged 23, and Dana — were born in hospital, but Mrs Williams did not want to return for further deliveries. She made the decision after a difficult experience in hospital when Dana was suffering with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

Eight-year-old Dana touched the hearts of people across the borough, who raised thousands of pounds in her honour before she died in March 2004.

Mrs Williams, aged 43, said: “When Dana was diagnosed we went to casualty and was told there was nothing wrong with her. Our GP saw her the day after and she had a tumour in her arm. It really put me off hospitals.”

Her first home birth was 10 years ago with Guy and he was delivered in just 35 minutes.

Mrs Williams said: “It was such a nice experience and I decided to do it again. Everything was fine, it’s been really good.

“It’s so much more relaxed at home.”

The subsequent births all went well and each labour lasted less than 90 minutes.

Mrs Williams is now encouraging other people to have their baby at home, particularly following the closure of Fairfield Hospital’s maternity unit last year.

Since the beginning of this year, 48 babies have been born at home in Bury. Around 2,700 births are registered in the borough each year, with most babies born at hospitals outside Bury.

Mrs Williams said: “I’m definitely glad I made the decision to have them at home. It’s so much more relaxed.

“It’s more comfortable to be in your own surroundings. You can have candles and music and anything you like.

“I would definitely encourage other people to have their baby at home.”