Why is Home Birth so Very Attractive?

• Care from the same caring, kind, understanding midwife from pregnancy right through until your baby is 6 weeks old
• Women have fewer complications in labour
• Less use of pain medication as natural methods are well used to maintain comfort
• Less likely to need an episiotomy
• Lower risk of needing a caesarean
• Being in very safe, private, comfortable and familiar surroundings
• Women have the choice and control of who is present at the birth
• No separation from partner or family such as other children, or the baby
• Much less risk of serious infection in your own surroundings
• Women have the complete freedom to choose their birthing positions
• Babies have uninterrupted bonding with their mother
• Increased chance of success with breastfeeding
• Receive personalised and convenient pregnancy and postnatal care in your own home

The safety of home birth

Several recent studies including two from Canada and one from the Netherlands have confirmed that home birth is as safe - if not safer - than hospital birth for low-risk, healthy women who are attended by professional and qualified midwives.  Women who birth at home also experience fewer interventions in their labour.

These studies compare very favourably to our NSW (2006) statistics. In 2006,

• 60% women had a normal birth
• 10% women had forceps or a ventouse birth
• 29% women had a caesarean

If you are a healthy woman and you desire a normal birth, home is the best place to be!

The most up-to-date scientific research supports the safety of homebirth for healthy, low risk women who are attended by a qualified midwife.