Choosing home birth in Ireland

Background: Birth in Ireland is, for the most part, located within a hospital-based obstetric framework. The most recently available national Perinatal Statistics Report highlights that in 2012, 0.2% of women had a home birth.... [ view full abstract ]

Background: Birth in Ireland is, for the most part, located within a hospital-based obstetric framework. The most recently available national Perinatal Statistics Report highlights that in 2012, 0.2% of women had a home birth. Birthing a baby at home is a departure from what is culturally the dominant place of birth. Reasons why women choose home birth in Ireland, within a system which supports obstetric-led care in the main, are unknown.

Aim: to explore the influences on women who chose a home birth in Ireland.

Methodology: This paper is derived from an ethnographic study exploring the interface of home and hospital birth in Ireland. Data were collected through field notes, participant observation and interviews with several participant groups (women, self employed community midwives, hospital-based midwives and obstetricians). This presentation will focus on data gathered from women who planned a home birth (n=42). The Voice-Centered Relational Method has guided data analysis. Ethical approval for this study has been obtained.

Findings: The women’s narratives highlighted several reasons for choosing home birth. This paper will focus on three of the themes – 1) “It isn’t just the home birth, I want all that comes with it”, 2) “I am afraid of what will happen in hospital”; 3) “There is nothing else for me”.

Conclusion: The findings highlight not only why these women planned a home birth but also provide an insight into their perceptions of the current models of maternity care and of health care professionals in Ireland. This study is timely and critical given that several reviews have recommended an urgent reconfiguration of the maternity services and support the need for choice for women in relation to models of maternity care. Any reconfiguration must be informed by the experiences of women.