Childbirth makes up 1/5th of all healthcare expenditures and is the most frequent cause for hospital admission.

Mushinski, M., Averages charges for uncomplicated vaginal, cesarean and VBAC deliveries: regional variations, US, 1996, Statistics Bulletin, Metropolitan Insurance Com 1998; ~ CDC, Trends in lengths of stay for hospital deliveries -- US, 1970-1992, MMWR 1995; 44:335

Stone and Walker conclude that hospitals are a "less appropriate model of care for a low-risk birth" Cost-effectiveness Analysis: Birth Center vs. Hospital care, Nursing Economics 1995

In spite of spending far more money per capita on maternity and newborn care than any other country, the US falls behind most industrialized countries in perinatal morbidity and mortality. Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative, Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) (202) 478-6138, <www.healthy.net>

"Our analyses of the California data ... do not support the claim by the obstetric profession that for the large majority of low-risk women hospital birth is safer with respect to perinatal mortality.

The already apparent disadvantages of the obstetric approach are of such a large order of magnitude as to raise serious doubts concerning the appropriateness of conventional ‘obstetric’ treatment for low-risk childbirth." The Safety of Alternative Approaches to Childbirth, Peter Schlenzka, Ph.D., MBA, MS, Stanford, 1999

Home and birth center births are both less expensive and safer than hospital birth. What is significant is that home birth and birth center birth ...require fewer resources and do not necessitate a sacrifice in terms of safety. Cost-Effectiveness of Home Birth, Anderson et al, Journal of Nurse Midwifery Jan 1999

One New Jersey CNM practice that cared for 274 women, 240 of whom gave birth at home between 1990 an 1994, showed a savings to clients and/or the insurance industry of $1.25 million. Editorial, Journal of Nurse Midwifery, Vol 40, no 6, Nov/Dec 1995

In the future liability insurance companies may even favor physicians who collaborate with midwives, because litigation is much less likely to occur when outcomes are good and client satisfaction is high. Editorial, Journal of Nurse Midwifery, Vol 40, Nov/Dec 1995

Families who give birth at home are safe and save money

Relative to hospital birth, home births offer lower rates of neonatal mortality and cesarean birth. ... [with] average savings of 68% and 49% relative to charges for hospital and birth centers respectively... This research supports the conclusion that home birth is a cost effective health care alternative that warrants further attention. Cost-Effectiveness of Home Birth, Anderson et al, Journal of Nurse Midwifery Jan/Feb 1999

The policy of encouragement of all women to give birth in the hospital cannot be justified on grounds of safety (paragraph 3), Hospitals are not the appropriate place to care for healthy women (paragraph 208); House of Commons, Session 1991-92, Winterton Report, Vol 1, March 1992

"...we conclude that low-risk women who opt for a natural childbirth approach in an out-of-hospital setting will experience a slightly ... lower perinatal mortality than low-risk women who opt for a hospital birth under the management of an obstetrician, including unfavorable results for transfers from home to hospital. The Safety of Alternative Approaches to Childbirth, Peter Schlenzka, Ph.D., MBA, MS, Stanford University, 1999

Given no difference in perinatal mortality it must be noted that the natural approach shows significant advantages with respect to lower maternity care costs as well as reduced mortality and morbidity from unnecessary cesareans and other obstetric interventions. The Safety of Alternative Approaches to Childbirth, Peter Schlenzka, Ph.D., MBA, MS, Stanford, 1999

Because all drugs and invasive technologies used in labor have potential averse effects, it seems obvious that using less of them, where possible, is a good idea and should promote the health of childbearing women and their babies. Midwifery Care: The "Gold Standard" for Normal Childbirth? Albers, et al; Birth 26:1 March 1999