Tremendous transformations in the birthing patterns in the United States have been witnessed over the previous century. In 1900, practically all the U.S births took place away from the hospital, the larger number of the births away from home took place at home. There was a decrease in the percentage of home births to 44% by 1940, and to 1% by 1969, this statistics held up to the 1980s. In 1989 there was a study conducted in the U.S that provided more information on out-of-hospital births (Barton 12). This study enabled the distinction among out-of-hospital deliveries at home, in a birthing center, or any other particular location. Deliveries at home in the U.S seldom happen, but from 2004 there have been an increase in the levels of home births in the country.
Recent studies indicate that the percentage of U.S deliveries that took place at home increased by 29% between 2004 and 2009. In 2004 the births that occurred at home took a share of only 0.56% of the total births in the country however, this increased to 0.72 by 2009. In 2009, the recent studies indicated that there were 29,650 deliveries in the U.S that took place at home. This represented a 0.72% of births in the U.S, this was the peak point since the statistics of the births started to be collected in 1989.
The bar graph shows high levels of home deliveries throughout the U.S in the 1990s. These high percentages gradually decreased over the years and majority of the births took place in the hospital. From 2000-2005 home deliveries were still very low but between 2005 and 2009 there was a sharp increase in the number of home deliveries which was recorded to be 29%.
There exist distinctions in the percentage of home deliveries by parental race and ethnicity, and these variances have continued to increase over time. Recent studies showed that the level of home deliveries for non-Hispanic white women was several times greater than that of any other racial group in 2009. In the year 1990 to 2004, the level of home deliveries by non-Hispanic white women increased by 14%. From 2004 to 2009 the trend increased even faster to 36%. It is estimated that around 90% of the overall increases in 2004 to 2009 were as a result of the increased home deliveries by the non-Hispanic white women.
The research also shown that the percentage of home deliveries that took place in the U.S were more in the northwestern and fewer in the southeastern areas. Montana followed by Oregon, and Vermont recorded the highest levels of home births. Other states that followed were Washington, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Idaho which had a percentage of 1.5% and beyond (Oregon Dept. of Human Resource 34). The trend in the southeastern states was contrary to that of the northwestern states with the regions in this area recording very low percentages of home delivery. Some of this states are Texas to North Carolina, Connecticut, Delaware, and Illinois which recorded less than 0.50% of home births.
The above chart shows the levels of home deliveries in different states in the north western region of United States.
Studies indicated that majority of the home deliveries involves midwives assistance. According to a research conducted in 2009, 62% of home deliveries involved midwives assistance (Rooks 18). Only 19% of this births were attended by certified and qualified nurse, and other midwives attended some of these home births and they comprised a total of 47% of all such births. In the case of hospital births it is only 7% of deliveries that were attended by midwives. Studies indicated that 5% of home births involved a physician, but on very rare cases of unplanned home births or emergency cases that necessitated a physician’s intervention. All births that took place in the hospital recorded a 92% physician attendance (Spatafora, 66).
Statistics show that home deliveries compared with hospital deliveries are very common with the older wedded females who have already had several children before. Studies indicated that one in five home deliveries were to the older females aged 35 years and above. This makes around 20.8% matched with 14% of hospital deliveries. Around 50.1% of home deliveries were higher order births likened to a 27.9% in the hospital delivery. 84% of home deliveries were to the wedded females against a 59% of hospital deliveries.
Recent studies show that home deliveries involve less risk profile compared to hospital births. The percentages of home deliveries involving preterm deliveries, low birth weight, and multiple births are lower compared to those in hospitals.
In conclusion, the sharp rise in the levels of home deliveries from 2004 to 2009 was widespread and it comprised of certain states from all regions of the U.S. These states have differing levels of home deliveries. These differences may be as a result of different laws regarding application of midwifery services and out-of-hospital deliveries. The difference in these levels may also be as a result of varied racial and ethnic structure in the residents of the different states.
Work Cited
Barton, Loretta J, and Carol D. H. Harvey. Out-of-hospital Births in the state of Idaho in 1977. Boise, Idaho: Center for research, Grants and Contracts, Boise State University, 1978.Print
Rooks, Judith. Midwifery and Childbirth in America. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1977. Print.
Spatafora, Denise. Better Birth: The Ultimate Guide to Childbirth from Home Births to Hospitals. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley, 2009. Print.
A Task Force Report on Guidelines for Out-of-Hospital Births. Portland, OR: Oregon Dept. of Human Resources, Health Division, Office of Health Services. Maternal & Child Health Program, 1988. Print.
