Planned Home Births in the United States Have Outcomes Comparable to Planned Birth Center Births for Low-Risk Birthing Individuals

This study compares maternal and neonatal outcomes of planned home births versus planned birth center births in the U.S. using two large national registries. Results indicate that planned home births generally involve fewer transfers to hospitals compared to birth center births, although one dataset showed higher cesarean rates for home births. Maternal hospitalization rates were also lower for home births in one dataset, while neonatal outcomes suggested home birth might be as safe, if not safer, than birth center births. Overall, the findings imply that for low-risk pregnancies, planned home births are as safe as birth center births, contradicting current guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that favor birth centers.

Outcomes of Care for 16,924 Planned Home Births in the United States: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project, 2004 to 2009

Between 2004 and 2010, the number of home births in the United States rose by 41%, increasing the need for accurate assessment of the safety of planned home birth.

Home birth; safe birth

A little bit of history. Did you know that the big move from home birth to hospital happened after a government report in 1970? I was born in 1968, at home, which was the norm then. Even breech and twins were considered normal to birth at home. The number of hospital births had increased since the advent of the NHS, but still the majority happened at home. The Peel report in 1970 linked the reduction in perinatal mortality figures since the war to the increase in hospital births and the Minister

How Safe is Homebirth

Home-Birth-Safety-Infographic

Is hospital birth dangerous for women?

Everyone always asks, is homebirth safe? But the bigger question to be asking is, Is hospital birth dangerous? Mel looks at the biggest Australian Study which included over 1 million women to find the answer of, is hospital birth dangerous for women?

Safety Isn't the Point

When it comes to making birth plans, safety is often a top-of-mind concern. This leads into the concept of understanding and weighing risks, real or perceived, and looking around for strategies, protocols and practitioners who we feel will minimize risk and ensure saftey. But what if, like my flock of chickens locked up too long in a small chicken run, the parameters we put into place to protect ourselves and our babies end up costing us something(s) even more valuable? Tune into this episode to unpack the myths of safety and risk, in which a real-life metaphor from Brooke's experience of chicken keeping ends up being a helpful framework. (Who would have thought?!)