Homebirths have a high rate of safety for women with pregnancies deemed low-risk, a Sydney hospital has found.
The Royal Hospital for Women analysed data from three years and found women with low-risk pregnancies who planned to give birth at home had a 90 per cent rate of delivery with no medical intervention.
This compared to 60 per cent for those with low-risk pregnancies who intended to birth in hospital.
The hospital's general manager Donna Garland said the data aligns with international evidence that birthing at home for women with a low risk pregnancy is a safe option.
"Three years ago the hospital introduced the option for families to give birth at home supported by the Royal Hospital for Women team and it has been so successful, seven families even returned for a second birth at home," Ms Garland said.
"Demand for home births is increasing and there are not enough places available in the home birth program to cater to requests.
'Women planning to birth at home understand the powerful and life changing event that a positive birth can be and our team are very privileged to be a part of this space."
Dr Andrew Bisits, Director of Obstetrics at Royal Hospital for Women said people who plan to birth at home have a long term relationship with their midwife.
"Women find birthing at home calming as they are in their comfort space and it is often a family experience, something that's not possible in hospital, especially during COVID," Dr Bisits said.
There are four publicly funded homebirth programs in Metropolitan Sydney including the Royal Hospital for Women, Wollongong, Belmont and Westmead Hospitals.
