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Although data support the safety of planned home births for low-risk women, the issue is still debated. In an integrative review, investigators analyzed studies of planned home births that provided the elements of “first-level” care (support similar to that available in a birthing center or primary-level health facility), including a birth attendant and provisions for transferring mothers and newborns to facilities offering higher levels of care if indicated.
The 28 prospective and retrospective studies ranged in sample size from 70 to 10,000 and represented the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, and England. Most mothers were white and well educated. Results from studies providing all relevant data showed that 7.4% to 16…