Abstract
Background
In Australia there have been regulatory and insurance changes negatively affecting
homebirth.
Aim
The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics, needs and experiences of
women choosing to have a homebirth in Australia.
Methods
A national survey was conducted and promoted through social media networks to women
who have planned a homebirth in Australia. Data were analysed to generate descriptive
statistics.
Findings
1681 surveys were analysed. The majority of women indicated a preference to give birth
at home with a registered midwife. However, if a midwife was not available, half of
the respondents indicated they would give birth without a registered midwife (freebirth)
or find an unregistered birthworker. A further 30% said they would plan a hospital
or birth centre birth. In choosing homebirth, women disclosed that they wanted to
avoid specific medical interventions and the medicalised hospital environment. Nearly
60% of women reported at least one risk factor that would have excluded them from
a publicly funded homebirth programme. Many women described their previous hospital
experience as traumatic (32%) and in some cases, leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD, 6%). Only 5% of women who reported on their homebirth experience
considered it to be traumatic (PTSD, 1%). The majority of these were associated with
how they were treated when transferred to hospital in labour.
Conclusion
There is an urgent need to expand homebirth options in Australia and humanise mainstream
maternity care. A potential rise in freebirth may be the consequences of inaction.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 04, 2020
Accepted:
June 13,
2020
Received in revised form:
April 15,
2020
Received:
November 27,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
