Death rates ‘soar’ when home births transferred to hospital

The babies of mothers who opt for home births could have an increased mortality risk if they are transferred to hospital, it has been claimed.

A study in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that while death rates for home births is low, a transfer to hospital increased the risk of losing a baby to eight times above average.

Advocates of home births claim that the study is flawed and does not consider women who develop problems in hospital, the BBC reports.

It is also noted that the number of deaths from 10,752 remained low at 65.

Professor Philip Steer, editor of the BJOG, said: “Essentially women who opt for a home birth face either a very successful, satisfying outcome, or a potentially disastrous one – there isn’t the greyer area that you see with hospital births.”

Mary Newburn, head of policy at the Natural Childbirth Trust, said: “You’re not comparing like with like. The study is seriously flawed.”

In December 2006, the National Childbirth Trust expressed concern at a shortage of midwives and called on the NHS to provide increased numbers to support new mothers, especially those having difficulties breastfeeding their child.