FAQ

Safety 

Studies on the Safety of Midwifery Care

http://www.cfmidwifery.org/pdf/CPM2000.pdf published in the

British Medical Journal showing birth outcomes from over 5,000 women cared for by CPMs

Infant Mortality Statistics 1.7 / 1,000 births for low risk pregnancies

http://www.cfmidwifery.org/pdf/MANAHBData04-09FactSheet.pdf  published in the 

Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health showing birth outcomes from over 17,000 births attended by CPMs

Infant Mortality Statistics 1.61 / 1,000 births for low risk pregnancies

CDC Statistics on Neonatal Mortalities:  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db120.htm

What neonatal mortality statistics do not show is the increased risk to the mother's health and the increased risks to her baby of cesarean section.  We know that maternal mortality rate is increasing in the US (60th in the world) and is a direct result of our sky high Cesarean section rate.  It has, also, been shown that babies born from uncomplicated cesareans have a much higher incidence of Neonatal Intensive Care admission for Respiratory Distress.

Cesarean rates are generally around 33%.

You may, also, be interested in the UK guidelines where governmental guidelines actually encourage out of hospital midwifery led care as safer for low risk mothers and babies:

https://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/more-choice-and-fewer-interventions-nice-sets-out-priorities-for-straightforward-births