Oxygenaire MK3 portable incubator with transformer container, United Kingdom, c. 1960

In Britain today, it is generally individual choice whether to opt for a home birth, birthing centre or hospital delivery. Until the second half of the 20th century, most babies were born at home. Portable incubators were frequently needed for journeys to hospital. They also moved babies to special care units from outlying hospitals. They were often designed to operate from an ambulance’s batteries.

This example of a portable incubator was acquired from St Anne's Hospital, Bristol in 1997. The fall in the numbers of home births since the 1960s means equipment such as this is rare. This may the only example of this type of portable incubator in existence.

In Britain today, it is generally individual choice whether to opt for a home birth, birthing centre or hospital delivery. Until the second half of the 20th century, most babies were born at home. Portable incubators were frequently needed for journeys to hospital. They also moved babies to special care units from outlying hospitals. They were often designed to operate from an ambulance’s batteries.

This example of a portable incubator was acquired from St Anne's Hospital, Bristol in 1997. The fall in the numbers of home births since the 1960s means equipment such as this is rare. This may the only example of this type of portable incubator in existence.