Home birth

Support and care at home

Home births are safe if you're supported by a trained health professional. You may be able to give birth at home if you have a low risk pregnancy, and you and your baby are healthy. Low risk doesn’t mean no risk. Problems can still happen during pregnancy, so it’s important to have regular check ups. You'll have 2 registered midwives with you when you give birth. You can choose to have more support people with you at home.

Home birth can be accessed safely through publicly funded homebirth or private midwifery care, where available. Some women choose to birth at home without a registered health professional – this is called a freebirth.

Planning a home birth

There are some things you should think about if you're considering a home birth. For example, you won't have as many options for pain relief, such as an epidural.

Your midwife will also have a plan for any complications or emergencies, and if you need to go to a hospital. For example, if you need a caesarean section, more help to birth your baby, or there’s an issue with bleeding or your placenta.

Even if you plan a home birth, this may change during your pregnancy or labour. Your midwife might recommend you give birth in hospital if this is safer. For example, if your baby isn't lying head first or if they have any concerns about your baby's growth or your wellbeing.

If you’re thinking about a home birth, talk to your GP, maternity team or a private midwife in your area.

Learn more about giving birth at home on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

Sunshine Coast publicly funded home birth service

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service offer a publicly funded home birth service. There are some clinical considerations for you to be included in this service. This includes living within a certain travel distance to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in case you need to transfer in an emergency.

Having a free birth

A free birth is when you actively choose to have your baby without a doctor or midwife providing care. Some women choosing a freebirth may have a doula, birth worker or unregistered birth attendant for emotional and practical support. Unregistered birth attendants are not trained to provide labour and birth care.

Free births are also known as an unassisted or wild birth.

Risks of having a free birth

Having a free birth increases risks for you and your baby. Without having a midwife who’s trained to support home births, you may not notice changes, such as:

• your baby's heart rate showing signs of distress
• your blood pressure being too high or too low
• the position of your baby making vaginal birth difficult or not possible
• internal bleeding.

If your labour or birth doesn’t go to plan or there’s an emergency, you won’t have fast access to the care you and your baby need.

Planning a free birth

If you’re planning on a free birth, you can talk safely with a health professional. They'll help you understand any risks specific to you and may be able to offer options.

Having a plan for emergencies

It's important to have a plan so you can get help quickly if you need it. Make sure you know where your nearest hospital is, and how to get there.

Having routine tests and scans during pregnancy may also help you plan for any possible problems.

Read more about free birth on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.