Four years' experience with home birth by licensed midwives in Arizona
Sullivan, D.A.; Beeman, R.
American Journal of Public Health 73(6): 641-645
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0090-0036 PMID: 6846673 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.73.6.641Document Number: 423261
In 1978, Arizona began licensing lay midwives under regulations designed to maintain adequate standards of care for women desiring a home birth. During four years of this program, 3 per cent of home birth clients were hospitalized for complications and another 15 per cent received postnatal outpatient care, primarily for second degree lacerations. Five per cent of the newborns required medical care after delivery; half of these were hospitalized. Complications declined over the period due to increased experience, close supervision, and continuing education.