Statistics recently released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that home births are becoming more common. The percentage has risen by 29%, from just 0.56% of births in 2004 to 0.72% in 2009.
Experts say that the rising trend reflects women’s desire to return to “what is normal physiologically.” Planned home births involve a qualified birth attendant who brings oxygen, equipment for monitoring fetal heart rate and for resuscitation, if called for.
Time Magazine reports:
“A study ... found that planned home births involved less medical intervention -- fewer epidurals, episiotomies and infections and less emphasis on electronic fetal heart rate monitoring”.