A major new report says that first-time mothers who opt for a home birth are almost three times more likely to have a baby who dies or suffers brain damage.It revealed that first-time mothers were 2.8 times more likely to suffer serious problems at home than in hospital obstetric units. These included the death of the child and injuries to its upper arms or shoulders.
Almost half of women who chose to give birth at home had to be transferred to a hospital because of complications during labour. Such emergencies require intense medical attention, and are linked to trauma at birth or the baby becoming distressed or deprived of oxygen, potentially causing brain damage.
The study also found that 36 per cent of women using birthing units – maternity units sometimes outside hospital grounds which are run by midwives – had to be transferred to hospital when problems arose.
The Birthplace in England study, published in the British Medical Journal, compared data for 65,000 women deemed at low risk of complications who planned to give birth either in a hospital maternity department, at home or in a midwife-led birthing unit.
Professor Peter Brocklehurst, who led the study at Oxford University but has since moved to University College London, believes women should have a choice over where they have their babies. He said: ‘There is an increase in risk for first-time mums planning home births, but poor outcomes for the baby are still uncommon.’
In England last year, 2.5 per cent of mothers had a home birth – a slight fall on the previous year – with nine out of ten births occurring in hospital.
Women who chose to give birth in a consultant-led hospital maternity unit had a higher chance of an intervention – such as a caesarean, delivery using ventouse or forceps, or being given an epidural.
‘Where a woman is considering birth at home she needs to be aware that there is a chance that wherever she gives birth the baby may have a poor outcome, and at home this chance is increased.’
Mary Newburn, head of research and information at NCT, the UK’s largest charity for parents, said: ‘For first-time mothers planning a home birth there was a small increase in poor outcomes, but a greater chance of giving birth without interventions. Parents should have this explained to them, so they can then make up their minds where they would like to plan to have their baby.’
The researchers found there was no increased risk for second or subsequent babies whose mothers chose home birth – the finding only applied to first-time mothers.
