We reported maternal and neonatal outcomes for women planning a publicly-funded homebirth between 2005 and 2010.  A descriptive analysis was undertaken.

Data from 2005-2010 were requested from the 12 publicly-funded homebirth programs currently in place at the time of the study. Nine programs provided data accounting for 97% of births in these programs.

Of the 1807 women who intended to give birth at home at the onset of labour, 1506 (83%) did so. A further 315 (17%) transferred to hospital during labour or within one week postnatally. The rate of stillbirth and early neonatal death 3.3 per 1000 births, and 1.1 per 1000 births when excluding deaths because of expected fetal anomalies. The vaginal birth rate was 90%.

This study provides the first national evaluation of a significant proportion of women choosing publicly-funded homebirth in Australia. However, sample size does not have sufficient power draw conclusion about safety. More research is warranted into the safety of alternative places of birth within Australia.