Planned home deliveries in Finland, 1996-2013

Objective To evaluate trends and perinatal outcomes of planned home deliveries in Finland. Study design All infants born in 1996-2013, excluding those born preterm, by operative delivery, and without information on birth mode or gestational age, were studied. The study group included 170 infants born at home as planned, 720,047 infants born at hospital were controls. Result The rate of planned home deliveries increased from 8.3 to 39.4 per 100,000. In the study group 63%, containing two perinatal deaths, were not low-risk pregnancies according to national guidelines. The rate of hypothermia, asphyxia, and need of invasive ventilation was increased in low-risk home deliveries. One infant had a major congenital malformation. Maternal outcomes were favorable. Conclusion The rate of planned home deliveries increased. Guidelines for low-risk deliveries were not followed in a majority of cases, including two perinatal deaths. Even in low-risk home deliveries, the neonatal morbidity appeared to be increased.