title: Home birth matters-for all women.
abstract: Although it remains rare in the United States, planned home birth has drawn increasing attention and criticism in the mainstream media and has come under attack from organized medicine. Yet, recent peer-reviewed studies contribute to the evidence base supporting home birth as a safe option for low-risk women attended by skilled midwives. The author of this editorial argues that home birth is an important cultural touchstone in the landscape of American maternity care.
authors.affiliation: ELIZABETH MITCHELL ARMSTRONG is an associate professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University. She is a member of Lamaze International's Board of Directors and the mother of two children .
authors.forename: Elizabeth Mitchell
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Armstrong