Queensland government considering publicly funding home birth services

The Queensland government is considering making home birth services publicly funded in a move to make the option more widely accessible for mothers.

Home birth services would be publicly funded in the Sunshine State in a move being considered by the Palaszczuk government that would make the option more widely accessible for Queensland mothers.

But Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has insisted any move to a publicly funded model would need to be backed by strong safety measures.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath. Picture: David Clark

The Sunday Mail can reveal the state’s health department is working with maternity stakeholders to explore new birthing options for Queensland women, with home birth among those on the table.

While home birth is not funded by the state government in Queensland, it is publicly funded in other Australian states, such as Victoria – where there are minimal out-of-pocket expenses.

The potential move has been backed in by the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU), as well as the Maternity Consumer Network.

Ms D’Ath confirmed the option was being looked at by her department.

“Queensland’s Hospital and Health Services continue to provide an exceptional level of maternity care across the state despite growing demand,” Ms D’Ath told The Sunday Mail.

“A public-funded home birth service would require strong evidence and safety frameworks to meet the needs of the community.”

Maternity Consumer Network director Alecia Staines offered her support for a publicly-funded home birth service.

She said there was a huge rise in demand for home birth services during the Covid pandemic.

“Demand for at home births actually ended up surpassing the number of private midwives available, so we are certainly seeing support for this,” she said.

“Women have been asking for this for a long time. It also brings us in line with other states.

“The biggest barrier for women accessing home birth at the moment is the affordability – so the sooner the government can do this, the better.”

Brisbane midwife Matilda Schmidt, with three-year-old Henry and six-year-old Norah, is planning to have a home birth. Picture: Richard Walker

She said, without any subsidisation or funding, home births tended to cost around $6,000.

There were approximately 258 home births in Queensland in 2020 and 155 home births in 2019, according to Queensland Health.

She also said that – assuming there are no abnormalities with the pregnancy – at home births were safe.

“Obviously if there are complications you might need care in a hospital, you might need a caesarean or specialist doctors but if your pregnancy is a natural one and it is free of complications, at home is a good option,” she said.

“Private midwives get to know their patients well throughout the birth process, and if anything does go wrong they can make the educated call to get you to hospital if they need to.”

QNMU acting secretary Kate Veach pointed to the scope of practice by the International Confederation of Midwives, which suggests midwives may practice in any setting – including the home.

“The QNMU supports the removal of barriers to, and enabling of, a workforce that can fully use their scope of practice,” she said.

“Queensland, unlike the rest of Australian states and territories, does not currently provide public funding home birth options.”

Ms D’Ath said while home birth was not publicly funded in Queensland, privately practising midwives who provide home birth could also seek access agreements with Queensland public maternity hospitals for women to be admitted under the privately practising midwife’s care.

Brisbane Midwife Matilda Schmidt, who is 31 weeks pregnant with her third child, is planning a home birth.

Her first two children, Norah and Henry, were born at home in a water birth, an experience that Ms Schmidt recommends for low risk natural pregnancies.

“As a midwife myself I know that for a low risk pregnancy, a home birth can be much more relaxing and instinctive for mothers,” she said.

“Often at hospitals, mothers can feel rushed or like they’re not in control, so I was really lucky to be able to birth both of my children at home.”

Ms Schmidt said that despite the strong appeal of a home birth, the cost of hiring a midwife to assist was a barrier to many mothers having one.

“Mine were both really great experiences, but I know a few friends who would have wanted to try a home birth but the cost of hiring a private midwife was just a bit out of reach,” she said.

“I certainly would support the government funding some of that, I think there would be more women having home births and I personally found that to be a much more relaxing way to do things.

“You’re in your own environment, you’re much more instinctive and you’re able to do what feels right.”

More than 63,000 babies were born in Queensland in 2021 and 15,000 between January and March this year, according to Queensland Health.

Among alternative options in Queensland is birth centres, but they are only offered at five locations across the state including the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Gold Coast Hospital.