Midwives are concerned a recommendation to report all high risk homebirths will push the practice underground, Darren Mara reports.

The Australian College of Midwives has expressed "grave concern" over calls by the South Australian deputy coroner for mandatory reporting by health professionals of all high-risk homebirths. ACM spokeswoman Dr Hannah Dahlen said this would mean many women who want to give birth outside the maternity care system because of traumatic past experiences in hospitals would go "underground" to avoid detection by the SA Department of Health. They would forgo important screening such as blood tests and ultrasounds leading up to childbirth, she said. "Either these women would have a 'free birth' with...