Interest in homebirths continues to grow, according to HSE 

University Hospital Limerick recently confirmed that homebirth services remain suspended its region. Picture: Dan Linehan

Interest in homebirths continues to grow with 432 women registered in 2022, the highest number ever in Ireland though still a small proportion of all births nationally.

The service also tragically saw one maternal death that year, the audit by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, shows.

“Sadly, there was one maternal death of a woman who gave birth at home in 2022. A review into the case is ongoing with a report due to be published from the HSE,” the audit states.

Laura Liston died in June 2022 following a homebirth in Limerick. 

University Hospital Limerick (UHL) recently confirmed to the Irish Examiner that while this review continues, homebirth services remain suspended in that region.

The audit shows 432 women registered for a homebirth, amounting to 0.8% of all births that year. 

Ultimately 218 gave birth at home, amounting to 0.4% of all births.

“This number has risen significantly in the last three years with 345 women registering in 2020, 429 in 2021 and 432 in 2022,” the audit states. 

Care of 136 women was transferred to hospital during pregnancy, and 65 during labour, mainly in the early stages. 

It audits homebirths under Self-Employed Community Midwives and the Integrated Hospital Community Service in Waterford, Wexford and the National Maternity Hospital on Holles St. 

There were 113 homebirths in the Cork/Kerry and Waterford HSE South region. 

However, for the first time, this was not the highest with Dublin Mid-Leinster registering 124 with the national service as well as 17 through the Coombe maternity hospital and 48 through the NMH.

Between 2019 and 2022 some 75% of homebirth mothers were aged 30-39 compared to 66% of all women giving birth in those years. In 2022 some 34 women were aged over 40.

Data on reasons why a woman’s request for homebirth was reviewed by an obstetrician shows age was the most common concern at one in three cases. 

Other potential risks were endocrine disorders, infection and mental health history.

You can read "Registered Home Births Audit" on the NPEC website.