Agneta Bergenheim, in Åskloster outside Varberg, has worked as a midwife for 30 years and has, on a few occasions, contributed to the fact that the woman had to go urgently to hospital in connection with a home delivery. But she is convinced that it is at least as safe to give birth at home.

But in Sweden, the midwives are able to cope on their own and the birth is paid for by expectant parents, which is different from other countries in Europe where home birth is more common. Although a woman in Sweden has the right to give birth wherever she wants, there are thus no national guidelines for the regions to offer help during a home delivery.

Distressing trends nationally

Agneta Bergenheim says that the number of requests for her help with home deliveries has doubled since the pandemic broke out. The Swedish Midwives Association also testifies that the pressure on the midwives has increased during the pandemic. They also believe that there is a worrying trend that the number of unassisted deliveries - completely without professional help - is increasing.

- This is something we have been aware of for a long time and now it seems that there have been more, says Eva Nordlund, chair of the Swedish Children's Association.

On the one hand it may be that you are afraid to go to the hospital during the pandemic, but also that you cannot afford to take help from a midwife.

In the clip, the mother-in-law Agneta Bergenheim tells about the situation and what cooperation she had wanted to see with the healthcare system.