Home Births Are on the Rise

Amid rising concerns about hospital care, more American families are choosing home births, signaling a shift in trust and expectations for maternity care. Home births in the US have continued to rise after an initial pandemic wave, with more than 1.5% of live births occurring at home in 2023—up from about 1% in 2019, per CDC figures. The trend points to a deeper skepticism about hospital maternity care in the US and a push for more tailored birth experiences, per Axios. The US holds the dubious distinction of having the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries. The numbers grow starker for Black mothers, who face mortality rates more than three times higher than non-Hispanic white women.

Persistent concerns about systemic bias and the legacy of medical mistreatment loom large for many families, influencing where they want to give birth. "In general, patients have distrust of the established medical system—especially Black patients," says Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, an OB-GYN and representative of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, noting a definite change over her 17 years in practice. Advocates for home births argue that the setting flips the script. At home, the patient makes the rules, from deciding who attends the birth to choosing the food they'll eat, says Michelle Palmer of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. "It's a different power dynamic."