Women who want a home birth are often accused of being selfish and of putting their babies
at risk, without any evidence to support these claims. Indeed, research evidence indicates that
the health outcomes of planned home birth are as good as or better than those for hospital
birth, and that many women experience a range of emotional and practical benefits from
giving birth at home
22
.
"There is ample evidence that planning a home birth improves overall outcomes for mothers
and babies....For women with normal pregnancies labouring at home increases the chances of
a birth that is both satisfying and safe."
23
In 1997 the research published by the National Birthday Trust Fund
18
of 6,044 planned home
births in 1994 and 4,724 births in hospital to broadly similar women found that low-risk
women who booked a home birth were half as likely to have a caesarean section as those who
booked a hospital birth. They were also less likely to have a ventouse or forceps delivery, and
had a reduced incidence of postpartum haemorrhage. Babies in the planned home birth group
who were born at home were significantly less likely to have low Apgar scores or need
resuscitation, and they also suffered fewer birth injuries
18
.
Home birth has been shown to increase maternal satisfaction, and reduce the risk of post natal
depression. It is accepted that women labour more easily when they are stress free and are in control both internally and externally. A small qualitative study indicates the positive benefits
of birthing at home in comparison to hospital with such feelings as being in control, relaxed,
babies being more alert and calm
24,25
.
The iatrogenic risks of birth are still poorly researched but as Campbell and Macfarlane
16
state: "For some women, it is possible but not proven that the iatrogenic risk associated with
institutional delivery may be greater than any benefits conferred." (page 120)
While the risks of hospital deliveries are underplayed, and little researched, it should be noted
that the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health
26
noted that "suicide was in fact
the leading cause of Indirect or Late Indirect maternal death over the whole year following
delivery." This might be more likely after a hospital birth, as medical interventions and a lack
of personalised care and support are known to increase psychological trauma