Between 2004 and 2008 the number of home births in the USA rose 20% to 0.67% of all births, after dropping steadily from 1990 to 2004, researchers from the CDC and Boston University School of Public Health reported in the journal Birth. Home birth statistics vary greatly from state to state, with 2.18% of all births being home births in Montana, compared to Delaware at 0.2%.

There were 4.2 million births in the USA in 2008, of which 28,357 (0.67%) were home births, the authors informed. 2008 saw the highest proportion of home births in 18 years. Not including Hispanic women, the increase from 1990 to 2008 was 28%.

Below are some home birth rates according to ethnic groups, all of which saw little change from 2004 to 2008:

  • Non-Hispanic African-Americans – 0.30%
  • Hispanic – 0.20%
  • Asian-Pacific Islander – 0.27%
  • American Indian – 0.38%

High risk births make up a significantly lower percentage of home births these days, the researchers wrote. The percentage of preterm or low birth weight babies born at home, as well as those born to teen and unmarried mothers has declined considerably.

Below are some details on percentage of all births that occur at home 2008:

  • Montana – 2.18%
  • Vermon – 1.96%
  • Oregon – 1.91%
  • Mississippi – 0.2%
  • Louisiana – 0.2%
  • Delaware – 0.2%

North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and Indiana all experienced increases in home births of at least 50% during the 2004-2008 period.

The following states had falls in home birth rates:

  • Vermont – minus 23%
  • Nevada – minus 18%
  • Arkansas – minus 17%

This year the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists made clear their opposition to the practice of home births in a statement.

Countries vary widely on their attitudes to home births. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK) support home births if no complications are expected. Canada’s universal health care system covers home births in Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and Quebec. The Western Australian Government in 2007 expanded coverage for home birth across the state, soon New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory followed suit.

Lead author, Marian MacDorman, said:

“A significantly larger number of women in 2008 have chosen to opt for a home birth experience, a development that will be of interest to practitioners and policymakers.”

“United States Home Births Increase 20 Percent from 2004 to 2008”
Marian F. MacDorman PhD, Eugene Declercq PhD, T. J. Mathews MS
Birth.

Written by Christian Nordqvist