Home birth trends rise in Finland with Österlund’s second child delivered in Tammisaari

Jenny Österlund, 33, gave birth to her first child at Lohja hospital four years ago. This year, when pregnant again, she chose not to return to the hospital for her delivery, deciding instead to have her second child at home in Tammisaari, Raasepori. The baby, currently referred to as “Baby Brother,” was born two weeks ago in the family’s guest room, assisted by two midwives.

Österlund expressed a preference for home birth, describing the hospital experience for her first child as highly stressful. She feels safer at home, stating, “Home is always home. Here, I feel secure. The whole hospital environment feels alien and uncomfortable to me.”

In Finland, the number of children born outside hospitals has steadily increased, even as birth rates hit a historic low. Data from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare reveals that planned home births have quadrupled over the last five years. Last year, less than 150 planned home deliveries were recorded, while more than 43,000 children were born overall.

Leena Kinnunen, a leading expert at Valvira, noted that the regulation body has received fewer than ten complaints about home births. Such complaints often arise from other healthcare workers rather than the mothers themselves.

Jukka Uotila, a maternal health specialist, acknowledges the risks associated with home births, including the potential for complications that might go unnoticed in a home setting. The Finnish public health system primarily recommends hospital births, offering no support for home births, where necessary medications are to be sourced independently.

The rise in midwifery entrepreneurship is evident as some midwives seek to establish private practices amidst increasing pressure within hospitals. Maiju Starck, one of Finland’s first independent midwives, illustrates this trend, emphasizing that while not providing home births, she considers them safe under certain conditions.

Recent complaints to Valvira have been valid, potentially leading to administrative actions if patient safety is deemed compromised. The conversation around home births continues, with midwives advocating for collaboration rather than opposition to hospital protocols.