Are Independent Birth Centers Safe?

Many medical studies have confirmed the safety of birth for low-risk women in independent birth centers as an alternative to hospital birth. 

The National Birth Center Study, published in 1989, looked at the pregnancy outcomes of 11,814 women at 84 independent birth centers.

• Over 98% of women were satisfied with their birth experience
• 15.8% were transferred, mainly for slow progress or requiring anesthesia
• The overall C-section rate was 4.4%
• 2.4% required emergency transfer. There were no maternal deaths.
• The overall intrapartum and neonatal mortality rate was 1.3 per 1000 births.

Birth centers utilize thorough risk screening assessments and have early referral systems to nearby hospitals in the event of need to elevate care.

     Other studies have shown that women utilizing birth centers are less likely to have medical intervention. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2003 examined outcomes for 2,957 low-risk, low-income women: 1,808 receiving collaborative care in birth center setting and 1,149 receiving traditional care in hospital setting.

Women at the birth center had lesser rates of:

• Labor induction (8% vs 15%)
• Caesarean section (11% vs 19%)
• Episiotomy (13% vs 38%)

     Their conclusion? The birth center setting resulted in a lowered level of technological intervention while maintaining a level of maternal and infant safety comparable to the hospital setting for low-risk women. 

     References

         Jackson, D. et al., “Outcomes, Safety, and Resource Utilization in a Collaborative Care Birth Center Program Compared with Traditional Physician-Based Perinatal Care”, American Journal of Public Health, 93(6):999-1006, (June), 2003.

     Rooks, J., et al., “Outcomes of Care in Birth Centers: The National Birth Center Study ”, New England Journal of Medicine, 321 :1804-1811, (December 28), 1989