Are non-hospital births gaining popularity?
While there is more interest in the use of hypnobirthing, birthing balls and nonsupine (upright) birthing positions within the hospital, some women choose to opt out of the hospital altogether. These women cite safety and “avoidance of unnecessary medical interventions common in hospital births” as their top reasons for avoiding hospitals. While some soon-to-be mommies are embracing a possible home experience, there is some hesitation regarding the medical health for the out-of-hospital option. In February the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a “Statement Against Home Birth” saying, “ACOG does not support programs that advocate for, or individuals who provide, home births” and that childbirth decisions should not be “dictated by what’s fashionable, trendy or the latest fad.” Currently, out-of-hospital births comprise less than two percent of expectant mothers in the U.S., and this percentage of the population includes women who opt for free-standing bir
