In what she described as a "very good experience", Jorinde Rapsey gave birth to her daughter, Elizabeth, in a paddling pool, bought from The Warehouse, in her lounge.
Originally from the Netherlands, where it was normal to give birth at home, she found the norm in New Zealand was to go to hospital.
It was not until she was searching for a midwife in the phone book she found having a home birth was an option.
"I think education about birthing is very important because a lot of people seem to just think going to hospital is the only option."
Her first baby was born seven weeks ago in front of her midwife, a back-up midwife, a midwifery student, her parents and her partner, which was the natural choice for her.
Charlotte Newman (28) is expecting her first baby in 10 weeks and was concerned about "unnecessary intervention" she may experience if she gave birth in hospital.
"It seems I'd be pressured to do things I don't want to do."
She believed modern medicine tended to "focus on the negative side of things" and she had heard "so many stories about people panicking" and being pressured into options they would not normally choose.
Mrs Newman would be relying on her strong midwife to "not be pushed into things" when it came to her giving birth.
If the option of a primary birthing centre was available in Dunedin, she would not hesitate to use it.
