Home Births Drop in England

Home Births Drop in England

Released on 09/11/2010



New national statistics
Home birth figures drop in England

In England, 17,834 women (2.7%) had a home birth in 2009, from 663,750 births down from 2.8% of home births in 2008. Wales has the highest proportion of women having home births, 1,325 (3.8%) from 34,574 births, an increase over the previous year.

In Scotland, 873 women (1.5%) had a home birth, from 59,363 births. And in Northern Ireland, 91 women (0.4%) had home births from 24,910 births.

Mary Newburn, Head of Research & Information, NCT, said:

“It is very disappointing to see this small reduction in the number of women giving birth at home in England, reversing the slow but steady upward trend of the last few years.

NCT’s interpretation of this development is that women are finding it more difficult to book a home birth. There is no evidence of a reduction in demand, but we know maternity services are additionally stretched due to a rising birth rate and too few midwives. The option of booking a home birth should be offered as a mainstream option for all women who want it, alongside options to book for care at a birth centre and at a hospital maternity unit.

We know women want a birth that is fulfilling, positive and safe for themselves and their baby. For a healthy woman, with a straightforward, low-risk pregnancy, there is no evidence to show home birth is any less safe than a hospital birth. High quality care in all settings depends upon  having an experienced midwife and the back up of a modern hospital system.

Research by NCT has found that women’s access to a home birth service varies greatly between different areas. Low midwifery staffing levels mean home birth is either not offered, or is withdrawn at short notice. NCT calls on every NHS trust and board to ensure that choice of place of birth is available to all women.”

It is estimated the reduction in home birth in England, also reduces the overall home birth rate for the UK. Across the UK in 2009, 20,123 (2.6%) of all births (782, 597) took place at home, compared with 21,211 (2.7%) in 2008.

ENDS

Local administrative areas with highest and lowest home birth rates include:-
      HIGHEST     LOWEST

England
   

West Somerset 11.5%
   

Berwick on Tweed 0%

Scotland
   

East Lothian 3.7%
   

Renfrewshire 0.75%

Wales
   

Bridgend 10.4%
   

Merthyr Tydfil 1.0%



New data provided by the Office of National Statistics, The General Register Office for Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Statistics analysed by BirthChoiceUK - available at www.BirthChoiceUK.com/HomeBirthRates.htm
Full list of statistics can be viewed at http://www.BirthChoiceUK.com/HomeBirthRates.htm

1. The NCT’s Location, location, location campaign highlighted lack of access to a choice of maternity options. Research commissioned by the NCT report found that:

·         95.8% of women do not yet have ‘reasonable access’[1] to all three settings for birth: home birth with a midwife, a local midwifery facility (birth centre) either stand-alone or attached to a hospital, and an obstetric unit in a hospital (the choices defined in Maternity Matters, Department of Health, 2007)

·         89% of women live in areas with a home birth rate below 5%, indicating, according to the NCT, that  they do not offer ‘reasonable access’ to home birth with a midwife. NCT’s definition of ‘reasonable access’ is access to a birth centre or hospital maternity unit within an estimated 30 minute journey time and living in an area with a  home birth rate of 5% or greater, indicating that  home birth services are well established as a mainstream option.

·         With greater provision of community-based midwifery services and active offering of home birth, choice could be provided to many more women. In some areas this could be achieved without a significant investment of midwives, in other areas more midwives are needed in order to develop services.[/b]

·         Over 40% of women live in areas without reasonable access to both a birth centre and an obstetric unit in a hospital

·         Women are lacking in the information and support needed to make these choices.

To find out more about the NCT’s campaign and each of the birth choices available to women in the UK, visit www.nct.org.uk/choice.

3. A full breakdown of the latest home birth statistics are only available from www.BirthChoiceUK.com



BirthChoiceUK is an independent voluntary organisation dedicated to helping women choose where to have their baby through information provided by way of a website. The website includes maternity statistics produced by the NHS Information Centre and fully referenced résumés of the research relating to choices in childbirth.



4. NCT is the UK’s largest parenting charity. Each year the charity supports hundreds of  thousands of parents through a life-changing experience, offering expert information and trusted practical and emotional support through the website, the nationwide network of 300 local branches, free helplines, antenatal and postnatal courses, breastfeeding counselling and peer support schemes. www.nct.org.uk