North Wales mums are less likely than women elsewhere in the UK to give birth to their children at home.

There were 333 either successful or attempted home births between 2015 and the end of last year, out of a total number of 18,644.

And while both the health board and the Royal College of Midwifery says its supports women wanting to give birth away from hospital if the conditions are right, North Wales is below the UK average.

Across Great Britain, the rate for home births is 2.3%. But in North Wales, that figure is just over 1.7%.

And of those 333 attempted or successful home births in North Wales, in 45 cases the mother have to be taken to hospital during labour, and in another 35 cases mother and baby had to be admitted just after the child was born.

Normally, one midwife will provide care to a woman during labour, and ask for support from a second midwife during the final stages of labour. Home births are generally less expensive than giving birth in a hospital.

A Betsi spokesman said they actively promoted offering women with “straightforward” pregnancies the opportunity to give birth at home, and do all they can to support women in choosing where they give birth.

All women are provided with information about the different choices available to them by their community midwife, including the benefits and additional risks associated with home births.

Women or their newborn babies could be transferred to a hospital after a home birth for a number of reasons, including needing routine post-birth checks or tests, or slow progress in labour.

He said: “Our midwives will closely monitor their women during home births, and arrange a transfer to the nearest available hospital maternity unit if they have any concerns over the wellbeing of either the woman or their baby.”

North Wales mums are less likely to have a home birth than women elsewhere in the UK
North Wales mums are less likely to have a home birth than women elsewhere in the UK

Royal College of Midwives’ Sean O’ Sullivan said: “Within the context of informed choice and shared decision making, the RCM supports giving midwifery-led care, whether at home or in a midwife-led unit, to healthy women with a low risk of complications.

"So for women with a low-risk pregnancy we would support them starting their labour with a midwife at home or in a midwife-led unit. The care of women with more complex needs should be provided by midwives in collaboration with specialist services including obstetrics and will often therefore be provided in obstetric settings.”

He said that recent evidence showed that home birth was “generally a safe choice”, though for first-time mothers the risk of poor outcomes for the baby was slightly higher and there was a high likelihood of transfer.”

He added: “It should also be noted that most transfers, whether they occur before or after birth, are for non-urgent reasons. The most common reason, whether this relates to a birth at home or in a midwife-led unit, is because of a delay during the first and second stages of labour.”

Royal College of Nursing’s Tina Donnelly said it supported a mother’s choice for place of birth, supported by midwives’ clinical assessment.