Homebirth Articles2022-05-25T08:47:00+10:00

Homebirth Articles

Homebirth ArticlesOur homebirth articles seek to explain why it is that homebirth is the birth of choice for more and more women. With a homebirth you can birth in the environment that you feel most comfortable and relaxed in – your home. It is very important to shut out outside distractions when you are in labour. This means that homebirth can be a quicker, smoother and more empowering way to give birth. Our homebirth articles include views from midwives on what it is like to attend such a broad variety of births, which are personalised to each family.

Read more about the true evidence surrounding how safe homebirth is in our homebirth articles below. You may be surprised to find out that risks like postpartum haemorrhage are reduced by having your baby at home. Birth is perhaps the single most important event in our lives. It is essential that we are knowledgeable about the latest research into homebirth.

Read our articles on Homebirth

Midwives Made History November 1st 2010

“Don't give up trying to find your way. But do remember that sometimes it takes bending to avoid breaking” (Katinka Hesselink). In my last Presidents Report I wrote about being in the back of the proverbial car moving towards our destination calling out, are we there yet? On November 1st 2010 we reached one of our destinations, spilt clamouring from the car and experienced the predicted excitement, frustration, fear, longing, dreaming, disillusionment and the reality of a dream that

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Are we there yet?

From the Australian College of Midwives Presidents report September 2010 Are we there yet? That phrase seems to hum along in the back of my mind a lot these days. This inevitably conjures up memories from my childhood of sitting in the back of a car full of hot, bored siblings; elbows digging into sides with increased frequency and viciousness as we go on some long trip to some imagined and longed-for destination. Back then as a child I

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The Campaign So Far

2008 The Rudd Government said that they were committed to improving maternity services for Australian women.  Minister Nicola Roxon (Minister for Health and Aging) conducted a Maternity Services Review asking for public input into how maternity services could be improved.  It was hoped that this review would allow Medicare and professional indemnity (PI) insurance for private midwives. Feb 2009 The recommendations from the Maternity Services Review were made public.  Despite an overwhelming 56% of submissions advocating for more affordable

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The politicisation of science: A critique of the South Australian Homebirth Paper and its portrayal in the media

‘Imagine a woman being forced to birth at home when what she craves and needs is the support of a hospital. Imagine a woman being forced to birth in hospital when what she craves and needs is the support of her familiar home environment. The miracle of producing new life, and bringing that life into the world should never be overshadowed by a lack of birth options - certainly not in today’s society’ These words come from one of

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Our Bodies Our Babies Our Rights Rally

On the 18th of February people from many different backgrounds gathered in 15 locations across Australia. They joined together to register their protest at the Rudd Government’s policies. They did this because these policies threaten to restrict options for women giving birth. Indeed, women should have the right to be able to have a private midwife. This will at best be highly restricted and at worse impossible if the current changes go ahead. Revised on 6th December 2021 Our

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The determination governing collaboration for private practice midwives has changed – It’s about time

The Australian College of Midwives congratulates the Australian Health Ministers on timely recommendations for private midwives. “The Australian College of Midwives (ACM) congratulates the Australian Health Ministers on the excellent and timely recommendations coming out of the Standing Council on Health (SCoH) regarding privately practising midwives,” said Sue Kruske, President of the Australian College of Midwives. Ministers recommended an extension of the professional indemnity insurance exemption for privately practising midwives. This will be until June 2015, enabling midwives providing

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Out of the Laboratory: Back to the Darkened Room

Out of the laboratory: back to the darkened room is one of the best articles on homebirth I've read. Tricia Anderson, who passed away in 2007, had a special gift as a midwife and a writer. I wanted to honour her by keeping some of her work alive. She wrote this article in 2002. Some of the statistics are out of date but the remainder of the article remains as relevant today. Enjoy - Jane Palmer - PBB Founder

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Risk of Haemorrhage is Higher in Hospital than Home

The debate on which is better for birth – hospital or home – is one that often generates strong and emotive responses. On one side are campaigners demanding that babies’ lives are being put at risk due to ‘ill-informed notions’ that home is safer, or just plain selfishness on the part of mothers. On the other side, we have campaigners demanding the right to choose their place of birth. Contesting the methodology of research which ‘proves’ that homebirth is

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Beyond the ‘Homebirth Horror’ Headlines

Yet another ‘homebirth horror’ story has hit the headlines of late, most notably on the Mamamia website. A woman in Victoria, who had had two previous caesarean sections, researched her birthing options online when she next became pregnant and chose to have a homebirth based largely, the article states, on information found online that supported this option. Tragically, her baby died. The article on Mamamia states its intention is to warn of the dangers of gathering information online that

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Publicly Funded Homebirth

In Australia, Homebirth is a contentious issue. For many years now we have heard of the increased risk to babies and mothers of home birth, and read stories of homebirth tragedy splashed on newspaper billboards. We have also seen reports of the protests of pro-homebirth midwives, women and their families fighting for a woman’s right to choose where they give birth. Meanwhile halfway around the world in the Netherlands, home birth is an integral part of the publicly funded

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Homebirths or births at home: It’s simply not the same thing

This opinion piece was published on ABC Unleashed in April in response to the misleading media about homebirth. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2543589.htm The front page of the Daily Telegraph ran the sensational headline this week ‘Four dead in home birthing’ (April 6th 2009). The article went on to say that at least four babies had died ‘during homebirths in the past nine months’ and a further four babies had suffered brain damage. This was presented as ‘fact’ although it remains unconfirmed to

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Homebirth

Having a homebirth is not a common choice in Australia. Less than one per cent of babies are born at home. This low statistic is indicative of the lack of support and services for women birthing at home. There is no government rebate for women who choose this option. Costs for a homebirth are paid out of pocket. Though some health funds are now providing some rebates for homebirth or midwifery services. Women who plan a homebirth find that

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Homebirth: Home Is Where The Heart Is

Reprinted with permission from Natural Life Review June 2000 Homebirth. The word arouses strong reactions even in alternative circles, and amongst those who avoid the medical system in other parts of their lives. Who would want to have their baby at home when there is a safe, clean, free hospital system? Interestingly, the answer is not 'hippies', although many families who choose homebirth make other unconventional lifestyle choices. In fact, homebirthers tend to be more highly educated than the

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Australian Homebirth is in Danger

As a privately practising midwife, I feel life is on a merry-go-round. My levels of anxiety have increased as another deadline is approaching that threatens women's right to birth at home with a private midwife. I've been attending homebirths as a private midwife for the last 16 years and I am passionate about supporting women in their choice of birthplace. Women have a right to birth at home in a safe environment with a qualified and experienced midwife. But

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Planned Homebirth – Hospital Transfer

What are the most common reasons that women transfer to hospitals? The most common reason a woman transfers into a hospital after a planned homebirth is because her labour goes on and on and she becomes exhausted. Lots of strategies can be tried at home to help facilitate labour and combat exhaustion, however even with the best tools, sometimes a trip to the hospital is required. Women expecting their first baby are more likely to transfer to a hospital

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