Abstract:

Although most women in the United States give birth in hospitals, a substantial body of research suggests that planned home birth or birth in freestanding birth centers have equally good or better outcomes for low-risk women. Out-of-hospital birth often facilitates mother-friendly care. Rationales and systematic reviews of both home birth and freestanding birth center birth are presented.

Keywords: home birth; midwives; midwifery; maternal satisfaction; birth center; birthing center; birth center outcomes; birth center transfer; safety and home birth; home birth and outcomes

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1624/105812407X173236