New Study Shows More Women Opting for Home Births

Over 99% of all the babies born in the United States are born in hospitals under the supervision of physicians. However, according to one recent article, more women are starting to consider having a home birth or a hospital birth with the assistance of a midwife rather than a physician.

Evidently, the study results indicated that women who choose to give birth in a hospital have a higher chance for unnecessary C-sections, forceps births, and episiotomies. These concerns aside, some women would just prefer to have a midwife assist with their birth than to have an obstetrician.

The study considers only healthy, fairly uneventful pregnancies. For more complex pregnancies, or when there are other medical issues in play, women most often end up giving birth in a hospital under the care of a physician. However, in these cases especially, the outcomes are far from certain.

C-Sections in the United States

Cesarean sections account for about one-third of the total births in the United States. This figure includes both emergency and elective c-sections. However, c-sections come with their own sets of risks, including hemorrhaging, developing a severe infection, and organ injury.

The Current Use of Midwives in the United States

Currently, about 9% of pregnancies involve a midwife in one capacity or another. Of course, in many of these cases a physician is also involved. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explains that this is best, since infant mortality rate in home births is two to three times the rate of those children born in hospitals. The idea is that there may be a lower chance of something going wrong in a home birth with a midwife attending, but if something does go wrong there is no emergency medical care available on site, as there would be in the hospital.

Injuries During the Birthing Process

When a doctor assists a woman in the birthing process, he or she takes on a responsibility to that patient to provide them with a certain level of medical care. This means thoroughly reviewing the patient’s background, medications, previous health concerns, and all other relevant medical history. If a preventable birth injury does occur, that doctor may be held liable for the injuries caused as a result under the doctrine of medical malpractice.

Have You Been the Victim of a Preventable Birth Injury?

If you or a loved one have recently given birth to a child who suffered from what you believe to be a preventable birth injury, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Keep in mind, however, that doctors and hospitals often have highly trained attorneys dedicated to their defense. This means that you should as well. Call the Maryland birth injury law firm of Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman. The skilled attorneys at WVF have the experience you need to feel comfortable putting your case in their hands. Call 410-998-3600 today to set up a free consultation.