Is Home Birth Safe for You?

A step-by-step guide based on population data from over 13 million U.S. births

This guide will walk you through 10 questions — not to judge your choices, but to help you understand what the evidence actually says about home birth safety in the United States. It takes about 5 minutes.

This tool does not replace a conversation with your obstetrician or midwife. It is an educational resource only.

Question 1 of 10

Background

References

Publications this tool is built on

What This Tool Is Built On

Grünebaum A, McCullough LB, Brent RL, et al. Perinatal risks of planned home births in the United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015;212(3):350.e1–6. CDC natality data: neonatal mortality rates by birth setting, 2006–2009
Grünebaum A, McCullough LB, Arabin B, Dudenhausen JW, Chervenak FA. Neonatal mortality of planned home births in the United States in relation to professional certification of birth attendants. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0170279. Effect of midwife certification on home birth outcomes
Grünebaum A, McCullough LB, Brent RL, Arabin B, Levene MI, Chervenak FA. Justified skepticism about the safety of planned home births in the United States. J Perinat Med. 2013;41(6):601–5. CDC 2003–2008: home births had 10x higher neonatal mortality than hospital births
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion No. 697: Planned Home Birth. Obstet Gynecol. 2017;129(4):e117–22. ACOG position: planned home birth associated with a 2–3x higher perinatal mortality rate
Grünebaum A, Chervenak FA. Why do women choose home birth? J Perinat Med. 2021;49(8):964–8. Motivations for home birth and their evidence basis