A minority report: homebirth in Australia before and after the 2009 Maternity Services Review

In 2009 the Australian Federal Government released its Maternity Services Review. Since then, homebirth has been virtually outlawed for those women who are unable to obtain one of the limited places on a publicly funded program. However, homebirth is a valid choice for women and advocating for homebirth does not reflect a desire to "turn back the clock", as regard to the history of birth will show. At its core, the controversy over homebirth is about the control of pregnant women's bodies, particularly when they make a choice about their bodies and their babies which sits outside of the mainstream. While only a minority of Australian women presently plan a homebirth, the issues surrounding the status of homebirth have wider implications for women and illustrate a troubling trend towards restricting choice through legal and administrative back-roads, without proper consideration of the risks or benefits involved.