Interesting, but not unexpected if you work in The Netherlands in this industry (or if your wife does). Here's the short abstract of the report on the study.

I thought the percentage of home births would have been higher.

I support midwifery and other natural but safe health practices - it's better for most people and frees up hospitals for those who really need them. That documentary "The business of being born" opened my eyes to a few things. I recommend it.

Apparently if things go well it makes no difference where you are.

However, if things don't go well you need to be in the best hospital available.

Absolutely! If you have a healthy, low risk pregnancy, there is no reason (besides your own squeamishness) to have to go to hospital to have a baby.

It's not an illness, and doesn't usually need a doctor. There have been mothers LOOONNGG before there were doctors. As long as you have experienced and/or knowledgeable assistance, do it!

I agree with that 100%. In The Netherlands they believe this so bad that they have decided that the pregnant people that go to my mom (see rambler's comment) are not called patients, they're called clients.

This just irritated me, because it's an example of OMG let's be ultra careful and use the correct word. Well guess what the definition of a patient is?

pa·tient
n.
1. One who receives medical attention, care, or treatment.

Don't see anything wrong with that...

But who administers the drugs?

i thought women who choose home births wanted to avoid the drugs. like yoornotme ...

why?

lots of reasons; some i've heard is that they want to experience what birthing is like without all the numbing and dumbing drugs (sadists, probably), and that some of those women can't handle drug cocktails (like yoornotme, i think).

though, if you meant the kinds of drugs that a women would need if things start to go wrong, then i'd think the midwife (one would have to be pretty damn stupid to not invite a midwife to a home birth) may carry a bag of the most likely needed drugs for just in case, or the birthing mom would then be transferred to a hospital to get what she needs.

like yoornotme ... i'm sure she researched and prepared for everything she thought she needed for her homebirth, though i heard she still transferred to a hospital where her tot was placed in intensive care. you could PM her to ask her why she wanted a home birth, and what she did with or without the drugs, so she can answer when she gets back to plime.

Many women are concerned about the effects of the drugs on the infant as well. The drugs cross the placenta and can be very strong. To an infant that may have a lower heartrate, the drugs could further suppress it, causing the doctors to suddenly want to do a ceasarian section when it may not have been necessary without the drugs!