The safety of homebirth

Right now we're looking at the AMA decision to outlaw homebirth; because I'm not thrilled. So far I've posted some follow up resources including these posts:

• American Medical Association decides to try and outlaw home birth
• The Business of Being Born
• Why I’m not a midwife

Each of those posts is full of extra resources you can check out that support midwives and homebirth. Now, what if you're undecided about the safety of homebirth. Many doctors would have you believe that birth is soooo much safer since they took over; that births with midwives or homebirths were dangerious, and should be avoided at all costs. Here's the deal. I've seen many normal births turn dangerious or become disappointing for a mama in a hospital, and fewer homebirths that turn out either way. Why? Interventions. Birth interventions happen so frequently in hospitals that it's just the norm now, and that's not ok. Most women don't even need these interventions. Homebirths, percentage wise have better birth outcomes, and fewer interventions. Research shows this and if you've worked in both hospital and homebirths, you've likely seen it first hand. Because this is a hefty topic, way too long for one post, here are some links about the safety of midwives and homebirths for you to read.

• Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America - this study was a big old deal when it first came out. It's an excellent read.
• Investing in midwives crucial to improving maternal health, stresses UN official
• HOMEBIRTH: AS SAFE AS BIRTH GETS
• Giving birth: home can be better than hospital
• The safety of homebirth - what science has to say (pdf)
• A huge selection of scientific abstracts related to homebirth safety

Next up I'll post some midwifery / homebirth books you have to read, and then we'll take a break from this look at midwifery and homebirth.