Home Births For Mothers With Low-Risk Pregnancies Are Safer Than Expected

A new study has found that babies who are born at home are less likely to get any complications. The researchers looked at the pregnancies of mothers with low-risk pregnancies and concluded that the result of their findings can be comforting to mothers who are considering home births. 

The researchers from the Canadian Medial Association Journal studied 11,493 planned hospital births and 11,493 planned home births. They concluded that 75 percent of the women who had home births were successful while the rest were transferred to hospitals, CBS News reported.

Eileen Hutton, the study author and director of the Midwifery Education at McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario said that pregnant mothers and their midwives can find reassurance to the positive result of home birth. However, the director also noted that those who are considering this type of childbirth should give extra precautions to ensure the safety of both the mother and child. 

"I'd feel very reassured that the outcomes for home birth are good," Hutton said. "As long as there's coordination between home and hospital, you could say home birth appears to be as safe as giving birth at the hospital."

Although some critics of home births did not entirely agree with the findings and concluded that the midwives in Canada are more integrated in the health system than in the U.S, a growing trend of home births is increasing in the U.S. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an almost 30 percent increase in child birth happened at home since 2009. 

There is also a growing debate on whether it is really safe for mothers to deliver their baby at home than in a hospital since home births rely on midwives and not on registered physicians, according to WebMD. The researchers acknowledged that whether a child is going to be born at home or in the hospital, they will still face the same risks. 

The conclusion of the study provided great insights for mothers with low-risk pregnancies as they can now have the option of having their babies at home. However, the home birth standards in the U.S. vary from state to state so better do a bit of research and ask your physician first before deciding on your next step.