Tasmanian mother delivers 5kg baby naturally at home without painkillers
Sara Slater gave birth to a 5-kilogramme baby at home without pain relief or medical help, supported by a private midwife.
Baby Landon weighed nearly 5kg and measured 58cm long. He was delivered naturally during a home birth.
Hospital staff urged induction at 39 weeks because of his size. Sara Slater chose to trust her private midwife instead.
She had given birth twice before at hospital with minimal help. Her labour lasted 19 hours with irregular contractions.
Her midwife assessed her at seven centimetres dilated. The midwife suggested positioning changes to help the baby move down.
Her waters broke and the baby arrived 30 minutes later. Slater said she felt far more held, heard and respected with her midwife and partner beside her.
This was different from her earlier hospital births. Tasmania has the second-highest home birth rate in Australia.
A Department of Health spokesperson said a proposed public home birth service has ongoing community consultation. This followed a 2025 feedback period.
- 5 kilograms
- Baby weight
- 19 hours
- Labour duration
- 58 centimetres
- Baby length
- second-highest in Australia
- Tasmania home birth rate
Why it mattersWomen with trained midwife support can have safe births outside hospital. They report stronger continuity and emotional care.
AustraliaTasmania moving toward publicly funded home birth options; demonstrates expanding choices for Australian women in where and how they give birth.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
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