home birth

Bethany Gates, a certified professional midwife in Iowa, examines her client, Mandy King. King has three children and this will be her first home birth.

As home births rise in popularity, some midwives operate in a legal gray area

5:01am April 05, 2022

by Natalie Krebs

As maternity wards continue to close across the U.S., demand for midwives has grown, especially in rural areas. But hospitals and health care providers have raised concerns about licensing and safety.

Marissa Tuping, a rural midwife, and Risa Calibuso, right, arrive in Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital on July 21. Calibuso gave birth to her son moments later.

The Philippines Has A Policy Against Home Births. It's Not Playing Well In A Pandemic

10:48am October 25, 2020

by Xyza Cruz Bacani

The "No Home Birth" policy was created to reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates. But critics say it makes giving birth expensive and complicated — especially during the coronavirus crisis.

Lesley McClurg sits on the floor of her home in Oakland, Calif., reading a birthing book. McClurg has been taking the time to decide between having a home birth or a hospital birth.

Health & Safety

Home Birth Can Be Appealing, But How Safe Is It?

3:32pm March 11, 2019

by Lesley McClurg

A tiny fraction of American women choose home birth, but that number is inching up. And in some social circles it's downright trendy. One pregnant woman investigates the pros and cons.

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The upshot from a study of more than 75,000 low-risk births is that "childbirth in the United States is very safe regardless of where you decide to do it," says Dr. Michael Greene, who directs obstetrics at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Giving Birth Outside A Hospital Is A Little Riskier For The Baby

6:29pm December 30, 2015

by Rob Stein

A big study finds the risk that the baby will die soon after delivery is twice as high if the delivery was planned for home or a birthing center versus the hospital, but such deaths are very rare.

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Should More Women Give Birth Outside The Hospital?

12:48pm July 13, 2015

by Dianna Douglas

The British medical system says healthy women with normal pregnancies should give birth at home or in a midwife-led facility. But 99 percent of babies in the U.S. are born in hospitals.

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