Home Birth Stories

Less than 1% of women in the u.s. currently deliver at home, but that number has increased by over 50% in the past 10 years. The evidence about safety is difficult to interpret and reliable data on outcomes in the us is somewhat limited.

In the UK, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends home birth for low risk women. However, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) warns that home birth is 2-3 times more likely to end in infant death. It makes you wonder, how could these two groups come to such different conclusions? For one, they are basing their recommendations on different data. 

Are You Crazy?

Heidi’s Story

Such Lovely Things

Robyn's Story

Hypocritical?

Michelle's Story

Grandma Understands

Tanashia's Story

Social Pressure

Saraswathi's Story

Birth Outcomes

 What is Safe?

At Home in the Hospital

Inside Perspective

Home Birth Data

Dutch Study

Home birth is much more common in many European countries. The largest study, by de Jong, compared birth outcomes at home and in the hospital in the Netherlands. Here’s what they found:

Wax META-Analysis

Do the results of the Dutch Study apply to home birth in the US? Here's why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists doesn't think so. 

Wax Criticism

There are many criticisms of the Wax study, but this is one of the big ones:

Resources & References

The decision about where to give birth has implications for the outcome. The following is a list of resources available to support healthcare providers, parents, and activists as we work together to improve maternity care and increase access to birth options for every woman and family. As you continue to learn and explore home birth as an option, we invite you to explore the following resources.

Free Information Guide