Midwives fear home birth ‘backlash’

The Royal College of Midwives is concerned that there may be a "calculated backlash" against home births and midwife-led care.

Cathy Warwick, the college's general secretary, said the coalition government's position on home birth is still not clear and that sectors of the establishment may be involved in a "concerted" campaign to dissuade women from giving birth at home.

Figures show that the rate of home births fell from 2.9 per cent in 2008 to 2.7 per cent in 2009 – a situation that the country's leading midwife described as "a real disappointment".

"There is a danger that risk during childbirth is presented in a way which leads women to believe that hospital birth guarantees a safe birth – it does not," she said.

Ms Warwick added that a "seismic shift" is needed to improve access to home birth and to boost the number of midwives who are recruited and retained.

The National Childbirth Trust recently expressed disappointment at the reduction in home births, pointing out that women should be able to choose whatever type of birth they want.