title: The dangers of planned hospital births.
abstract: Hospital birth* has not undergone rigorous scientific scrutiny, yet is commonly believed to be safer than planned homebirth, even for low-risk women. A commonly promoted notion is that there are rare complications, which can arise at birth, making a hospital birth safer for low-risk women. There is no published research to support this notion. Where trained and equipped birth attendants are available, and hospital transfer is closer than 30-45 minutes, a planned, attended homebirth is safer for low-risk women than a planned hospital birth. Currently available published research suggests planning a hospital birth is not safer than planning an attended homebirth for women with one head-down fetus, between 37-42 weeks, no high blood pressure, no previous cesareans and no serious medical conditions that affect pregnancy outcome.
authors.forename: Judy Slome
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cohain
mesh_terms: D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003696:Delivery Rooms; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology