Home Birth in the United States: An Evidence-Based Ethical Analysis

2024/02/19 by Paige M Anderson, Vivian Altiery De Jesus, Marielle S. Gross · 1 voice
Psychology · Medicine · #Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health #Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions #Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy

paper · doi:10.1086/728147

openalex publication_date 2024/02/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

AbstractThe assumption in current U.S. mainstream medicine is that birthing requires hospitalization. In fact, while the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports the right of every birthing person to make a medically informed decision about their delivery, they do not recommend home birth owing to data indicating greater neonatal morbidity and mortality. In this article, we examine the evidence surrounding home birth in the United States and its current limitations, as well as the ethical considerations around birth setting.

Discussions

• "when looking more broadly at the risks & benefits of home birth, as well as the ethics involved, it does not appear to be as straight-forward to recommend one birth setting, specifically a hospital, [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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