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Home Birth Aotearoa is frequently contacted asking for details of the number of Home Births in New Zealand.

Unfortunately it is very difficult to give an accurate response as these statistics have been poorly collected in the past.  Most figures quoted have relied solely upon the midwives claim for the Ministry of Health’s "Homebirth Fee & Services" module, which does not distinguish between planned and unplanned homebirths, or indicate whether the birth actually occurred at home or following transfer to another facility.  These statistics therefore include planned hospital births where the woman births before getting to hospital (either at home or in transit) and usually end up with her transferring to hospital anyway as she was on her way there in the first place!

Homebirth Aotearoa identified this and as the result are now working with the Ministry of Health in an attempt to have more accurate statistics gathered.

Historically the Home Birth rate has varied enormously from region to region.  Recent figures received from the New Zealand College of Midwives indicate that the rate of Home Births in New Zealand appears to be on the increase and has risen to approximately 7%.  It is apparent that in some areas, where there is good local support from Home Birth associations and midwives, the rate is much higher (such as a 10% rate reported on the West Coast of the South Island.)

 

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Last modified: 20 June 2010

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