Failed homebirths: reasons for transfer to hospital and maternal/neonatal outcome

A review of patients who had been transferred to the Royal Women's Hospital, Brisbane after a failed homebirth was undertaken over a period of 5 1/2 years. There were 27 patients identified. The most common reason for transfer was failed progress in labour, although 4 patients were transferred after delivery. Despite the resistance of these patients to medical intervention, the study found that 63% of patients required assistance at delivery, by vacuum extraction, forceps or Caesarean section. The morbidity suffered by the babies was significant (8 were admitted to special and intensive care nursery) but long-term sequelae cannot be determined because of early discharge against medical advice and refusal to be followed-up in some instances.