CDC Charts Nearly 30% Uptick in Home Births
Although it’s not a stunningly huge number, about thirty thousand babies are born at home each year, a number that’s steadily increasing, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Still less than one percent of all American births occur at home, but a new report tracking trends in childbirth between 2004 and 2009 shows that the uptick is significant- from 0.56% in 2004 to 0.72% in 2009. The demographics for home births skews to an older segment of the population, with numbers overwhelmingly including women 35 or older. Families that choose home births also tend to be caucasian but not Hispanic, and the numbers fluctuate wildly from state to state- with Louisiana moms least likely to opt for home births and Montana moms to choose them more often than women in any other state.
Saraswathi Vedam chairs the American College of Nurse-Midwives’ committee and while she notes “an increased interest in everything about healthy living,” she notes that not every home birth goes according to plan. Vedam acknowledges that hospital transfers are rare but sometimes necessary:
“Home birth is an ongoing assessment. We’re not talking about making a decision about where you’re going to give birth and sticking to it. If your risk profile changes, then you change the plan and go to the hospital.”
Have you considered a home birth or experienced one? Do you find it to be risky, or better for both mother and baby?
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About the Author
Kim LaCapria Kim LaCapria is a writer and editor based in New York. A longtime information junkie, she began blogging full-time at the Inquisitr in 2009. Prior to that, she worked as a marketing assistant in the cosmetics and skincare industry. In addition to her writing for fortytwotimes, she also writes for Medacity and The Inquisitr. Kim is also a contributor for SocialNewsDaily, Indyposted, and TotallyMoney. In the past, she contributed to Lipstick and Luxury and managed social media accounts and blogs for several small and mid-sized businesses.
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