Study says safety of home birth not so simple

Over the last decade, the rate of U.S. births happening outside of hospitals has been steadily on the rise, as more expectant mothers seek out a relaxed, private space to bring their children into the world. In six states, including Alaska, Pennsylvania and Washington, more than 3 percent of all births occur beyond the maternity ward.

But how safe are home births?

Perhaps the answer lies in the Netherlands, the only developed nation in the world where such arrangements are relatively common.

The infant mortality rate is also higher in the Netherlands than in European countries with similar medical resources. But as more Dutch mothers have switched in recent years to delivering their babies in hospitals, rather than their homes, doctors have noticed a drop in newborn deaths.

Researchers wanted to understand why, between 1980 and 2009, the country’s infant mortality rate fell from 4.25 deaths per 1,000 births to 2.42 deaths per 1,000 births. Over the same period, the share of deliveries in maternity wards swelled from about 61 percent to 73 percent. On the surface, it appeared the home method may simply be riskier for babies.

But the story isn’t that simple. What happened to the women during their home births depended a lot on their income and their access to routine medical care before and after pregnancy, according to a study published this month in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics.