Compare And Contrast Homebirth Vs Hospital Birth

Homebirth Versus Hospital birth: A Compare and Contrast Essay
Women have been delivering babies at home since the beginning of time. The option to deliver a baby in a hospital is only a few generations old. Society tends to view hospitals as a safer place to deliver babies and has frowned upon women who choose to have planned homebirths as irresponsible and uneducated. Current research does not support this common belief or show evidence that hospital birth is safer than planned homebirth for low-risk, healthy women delivering full-term babies. Hospitals offer trained specialists and equipment should complications arise, are a better choice for higher-risk moms or babies and offer reassurance for moms that are not feeling confident about birth
Hospitals offer the benefit of frequent monitoring, access to labs and tests as needed and IV antibiotics to prevent or treat infections. Infection for homebirths is generally cited as a concern from those who feel it is dangerous or irresponsible. This has been proven untrue in several studies including one large study that demonstrated a uterine infection rate of 0.7% for homebirths versus a rate of 2.7% rate for hospital births (Janssen, pg 65). This study discusses that other studies have come to the same conclusion that rates for infection are about the same for homebirth as hospitals and sometimes are even
(Catling-Paull, pg 122-128). Hospitals remain a better choice for women who are less educated regarding the birth process or newborn infant care. Some women may lack confidence in themselves or simply prefer the assurance of delivering at the hospital where equipment and multiple specialists are available if needed. Women, especially first-time moms, or moms without much family support, may choose a hospital birth for the added support and education they will receive during their