BJOG Study Finds Homebirth as Safe as Hospital Birth

A study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that planned homebirth is as safe as hospital birth for women with low-risk pregnancies. The study examined nearly 530,000 births in the Netherlands—a country where one third of women choose to give birth at home. Researchers note the importance of both highly trained midwives who know when to transfer a woman from home to hospital as well as rapid transportation. The study is the largest of its kind and contributes to a growing body of evidence that suggests it is appropriate for women with low-risk pregnancies to choose where to give birth.