When you are pregnant, you have some choices to make. The biggest decision is where you will give birth. You could have your baby at a North Carolina hospital or birthing center, or you could decide to have a home birth. Either option is legal. The choice is up to you. According to The New York Times, home births have actually been gaining in popularity, but many still wonder just how safe they are.
Studies have been done to analyze the risks of a home birth, and they have shown some disturbing information. Home births can increase your chances of birth injuries, such as blood loss and seizures. They also can increase the risks to your baby. In fact, the risk of death for your baby during and within 30 days after the birth is 2.4 times more than a hospital birth. Additionally, home birth babies may be more likely to require a ventilator. There is good news, though. Home births do reduce the chances of a cesarean section, decrease your likelihood of lacerations and involve fewer labor interventions.
It is important to note the study that produced these results was carefully done and verified. Results were adjusted to allow for other factors that could have skewed the data. For example, if you had diabetes, you were already considered high risk, so your chances of having complications were increased. Where you gave birth might not have factored into any birth injuries. Also, twins, breech positioning, premature births and birth defects were all adjusted for since they also increase the chances of skewed results. This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.