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Finnish homebirth midwives: Descriptions about their work
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1
Department of Nursing Science, Kuopio, Finland
2
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland
Publication date: 2025-10-24
Eur J Midwifery 2025;9(Supplement 1):A83
ABSTRACT
The planned home birth rate in Finland has increased during the last ten years. Families
cannot choose their birthing place equally because the public healthcare system covers
only hospital births. Home birth midwives work outside of the public healthcare system and
they are in a vulnerable position.
The objective of the study was to describe Finnish home birth midwives' experiences
assisting in homebirths and their work. The aim of the study was to produce information
about this topic that has not been researched before in Finland.
The philosophy behind the study was phenomenological-hermeneutical. 12 home birth
midwives participated in the study. Research data was collected remotely through
individual thematic interviews and analyzed using inductive content analysis.
Finnish home birth midwives delivered continuous care for the families. It was important for
them to familiarize themselves with the birthing person during pregnancy. They used their
whole professional potential working as responsible and skilled healthcare professionals.
They were able to work according to their own ideology of birth and woman-centered care.
Midwives had faith in the woman's ability to give birth. They experienced a range of
emotions during home births. Mostly the experiences were wonderful, exciting, powerful
and touching. They felt that it was a privilege to assist in home births. There were multiple
promotive and inhibitory factors working as a home birth midwife in Finland. Often the co-
operation with hospitals and public authorities was poor.
It was meaningful for the home birth midwives to assist in homebirths. They were able to
take care of the families in a way they felt was ethical. They faced many challenges
working outside the public healthcare system.