Homebirth : ten tips for safety and survival

Opinion and government policy regarding homebirth remain polarised and contentious in many resource rich countries today and this controversy continues despite mounting evidence regarding the safety of homebirth for low risk women attended by competent midwives who are well integrated into responsive maternity care systems. In this environment midwives who provide care to women giving birth at home increasingly need to walk a fine line between their commitment to woman-centred care, increasing health service bureaucracy and regulatory responsibilities. This paper provides personal insights from the perspective of an academic and privately practicing midwife in Australia as to how midwives can provide homebirth services in a way that is both safe and sustainable so this important place of birth remains an option for childbearing women..