Parents tell us

Home birth as an intimate alternative to hospital

Once the "light of day" that is seen is the light of the living room.(Bild: Rosemarie Gearhart)

What used to be quite normal is now the exception: a home birth, i.e. giving birth to your child at home. Yet it is considered a safe alternative to giving birth in hospital. Parents talk about their experiences.

According to Statistics Austria, only 1.5 percent of all babies in Austria - that's 1192 children - were born at home in 2022. Most parents therefore still choose to give birth in hospital. Yet international studies repeatedly show that home births are just as safe as other birthplaces. Women who give birth at home are even proven to experience significantly fewer medical interventions and impairments or injuries. The risk of experiencing violence is significantly lower.