Myth: Home birth is so dangerous that it should be considered child abuse.

Reality: "There is no evidence to support the claim that the safest policy is for all women to give birth in the hospital...There is some evidence...that morbidity is higher amongst mothers and babies delivered and cared for in institutional facilities in general and...obstetric units in particular." --Campbell and Macfarlane

• "Raw data, such as birth certificates, give an inaccurate picture of the risks of home birth because they include a large proportion of unplanned home births and births without a trained attendant, both situations carrying extremely high risk." (Goer)
• "No study of planned home births of a screened population of women with a trained attendant taking proper precautions has shown excess risk." (Goer)
• "Because unexpected problems arise even within a screened population. those planning home birth should have appropriate backup arrangements with an obstetrician and a hospital. Home birth attendants should have the skills to monitor the labor and the baby and the skills, equipment, and medication to manage or stabilize emergencies such as a baby who does not breathe spontaneously or a mother who homorrhages after birth." (Goer)
• "Home birth becomes dangerous only when doctors and hospitals fail to provide backup services." (Goer)
• "Excellent outcomes with much lower intervention rates are achieved at home births. This may be because the overuse of interventions in hospital births introduces risks or the home environment promotes problem-free labors." (Goer)
• "To prevent unnecessary postpartum hospital transfers, the attendant should be able to repair perineal lacerations and to perform and repair an episiotomy." (Goer)