Are home births safer than hospital births?

In the UK about 2% of births take place in the home, and in Ireland it’s about 1%. Birthing at home can lead to less interventions, less adverse maternal outcomes and less adverse outcomes for babies too. Which creates a more positive experience for the women and their families.

Are home births safe?

Birthing at home with a qualified midwife is a safe option for most families. As midwives, we are passionate, knowledgeable, and experienced in facilitating ‘normal’ physiological birth. We are trained to recognise the warning signs that suggest things may not be going to plan, and we carry the equipment necessary to deal with any emergent situation while we access further assistance and/or transfer to an obstetric unit. Have a look at what we carry in our bags here.

Research suggests that having your baby at home reduces the chance of interventions such as having a cardiotocograph (CTG) in labour, having an augmented labour, having an assisted birth such as ventouse or forceps, or having a Caesarean. Additionally, research shows that you are less likely to experience adverse outcomes such as third- or fourth-degree perineal tears and less likely to suffer an infection. Women reporting on their experience after homebirth are likely to feel more positive than those who choose to birth in hospital.

One of the most important hormones in birth is oxytocin, which is known as the shy love hormone. Oxytocin increases when you feel safe, supported, and loved, in familiar surroundings. It can, however, be easily diminished by unfamiliar surroundings/people, feeling anxious, scared, or unsupported. Research even suggests that you are more likely to successfully birth at home after a caesarean section with a registered midwife within an integrated health system.

There are times when birthing at home may not be right for you and hospital is the safest place. If you have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, are on the induction of labour pathway or have had a pre-term labour in previous pregnancies, research has suggested that birthing in hospital is safer option for you and your baby. If this is the case for you, we recommend accessing comprehensive antenatal education detailing the different options available to you. This will help you to feel empowered to make decisions regarding your care. A good birthing support team is really useful when birthing in hospital, as they can help you feel safe and comfortable and also empower to make decisions that are right for you and your baby.

How many home births end up in hospital?

In accordance to the Birthplace National Study (2011) the most common reason for first time mums to transferred into hospital was not due to an emergency situation, in fact 32.4% labouring mothers transferred into hospital due to slow progression in labour. 12.6% of first-time mums transferred to hospital for other reasons. For women who had had a baby before this figure dropped to a total of 12%. Take a look at Private Midwives outcomes and results for 2022.

If you would like to know more about your pregnancy and birth options feel free to call us on 0800 3800 579