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SALT LAKE CITY -- The National Center for Health Statistics says from 2004 through 2006 there was a 10 percent jump in home births in the United States. But what's surprising is that neither a midwife nor doctor attended to them.
The president of the Midwives College of Utah believes that number will go up.
"The reasons, first of all, are money," says Kristi Ridd-Young. "I've also heard some discussion about the fact that there is so much information available that people feel like they can read on the Internet or in a book how to catch their own baby more than 10 or 15 years ago." She says some people may also have philosophical reasons for doing it.
So what is her advice? Ridd-Young suggests having someone present with medical knowledge.
"You can't always predict what's going to happen in birth. Sometimes you need more emotional support to handle what's happening in birth. Sometimes you need more clinical support," she says.
Ridd-Young says she knows that some families want to save money. But she says there are enough health care providers in Utah that will work with clients on payments.
E-mail: cwall@ksl.com
