For women with no complications in pregnancy, childbirth
is generally very safe. A recent study (known as the
‘Birthplace study’) looked at a large number of women
with no complications in pregnancy and compared the
safety of births planned in four settings: home,
alongside midwifery units freestanding midwifery units,
(midwifery unit within a maternity hospital) and obstetric
units.
The study showed that among women with an
uncomplicated pregnancy who plan to give birth at home
(or in a midwife-led unit) there is a higher likelihood of a
less intervention for example normal birth and significantly
caesarean section, epidural, episiotomy and instrumental
birth.
The study showed that, for low-risk women having their
second or subsequent baby, a homebirth is as safe as
t and can offer additional birthing in an obstetric uni
benefits to the mother.
For women having their first baby the study showed that
for women who choose home birth, there is a slightly
tcome for the baby (such as increased risk of a poorer ou
ur or shortly afterwards, or increased risk of death in labo
birth injury) compared to those women who give birth in a
midwife led unit or obstetric unit. (1 in 110 risk of a poor
outcome for a home birth compared to 1 in 190 for women
in an obstetric unit). With respect to midwife led units, the
risks to the baby were the same as those born in an
obstetric unit, but again there was less intervention during
labour and birth.