Photo by Sarah Fowler
Australian Homebirth Statistics
The latest statistics on homebirth in Australia indicate that homebirth rates have increased. Of 291,710 babies born in Australia in 2020, 0.5% were born at home (compared to a national homebirth rate of 0.3% in 2019). This is not surprising, considering that the latest data coincides with hospital restrictions due to COVID-19.
The highest number of homebirths in 2020 were in the Northern Territory (1.3%) and the lowest number of homebirths in New South Wales (0.1%). We question the accuracy of this data, as we know homebirth midwives in NSW have taken on many more clients than in previous years.
The latest statistics on homebirth in Australia indicate that homebirth rates have increased. Of 291,710 babies born in Australia in 2020, 0.5% were born at home (compared to a national homebirth rate of 0.3% in 2019). This is not surprising, considering that the latest data coincides with hospital restrictions due to COVID-19.
The highest number of homebirths in 2020 were in the Northern Territory (1.3%) and the lowest number of homebirths in New South Wales (0.1%). We question the accuracy of this data, as we know homebirth midwives in NSW have taken on many more clients than in previous years.
It is interesting to compare the number of intended homebirths vs the number of actual homebirths in this time frame. Due to the way data is collected in different states, it is impossible to tell from this report how many intended homebirths resulted in hospital transfer, or how many intended homebirths ended up in hospital due to the woman being unable to book a midwife (access and availability). We know that anecdotally, the number of homebirth enquiries that privately practising midwives (PPMs) received in 2020 was significantly higher than in previous years).
The average age of women who gave birth at home in 2020 was 32, which is the same as in 2019.
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The average gestational age of babies born at home in 2019 was 40 weeks, compared to 39 weeks for babies born in birth centres and 38 weeks for babies born in hospital, which is also consistent with 2019 data.
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For first time mothers in 2020, hospital was the main place of birth (43.9%) followed by birth centre (37.5%) and home (24.4%). This data maintains a trend of women choosing birth centre and home for their 2nd and subsequent births. 'Other' is a combination of babies born before arrival at hospital, unplanned homebirths, freebirths and births at community health centres.
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Most homebirths (71.2%) were in major cities, with only 0.8% of homebirths taking place in a remote area.
It is probable that not all homebirths are reported to the perinatal data collections.
Source: Australia's Mothers and Babies Report 2020 and 2019
Source: Australia's Mothers and Babies Report 2020 and 2019
