Planned Home Births Are As Safe As Low Risk Hospital Births

A study of 5418 planned home births published by the British Medical Journal found that for low risk women in the Unites States, planned home births are as safe as low risk hospital births. All the home births in the study were done by Certified Professional Midwives in the year 2000. Ken C Johnson, a senior epidemiologist, authored the study.

The study had many surprises, especially for those in the medical profession. The researchers found that home births had a low mortality rate, which is similar to a low risk hospital birth. This goes against the claims of many medical professionals in the United States, many of whom categorize home births as dangerous. Medical intervention, such as C-sections and epidurals, were substantially lower for home births. And transport to a hospital was not required in over 87% of mothers and their babies.

Why then do we continue to treat pregnancy as a medical condition? Birth should be a celebration. The results of this study clearly state that all this medical intervention is not necessary in most low risk pregnancies. If 87% of mothers and babies did not need hospital care after birth, that means most healthy women don't need to go to the hospital to give birth. It is safe and a natural part of life.

The full study is published online at:
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/330/7505/1416?ehom