Back to Research and Articles Is Homebirth Safe? The Mehl Study ,one of the largest scientific studies comparing the outcomes of homebirth with hospital birth was done by Dr. Lewis Mehl and Associates. This study compared the outcomes of matched populations.  In the study, 1,056 homebirths were compared with 1,046 hospital births in the U.S.  For each home-delivered patient, a hospital-delivered patient was matched for age, length of gestation, parity, risk factor score, education and economic status, race, presentation of the baby, and individual major risk factors. Both groups had trained birth attendants and received regular prenatal care. Cesarean Operation:   In the hospital: Three times greater Forceps:  In the hospital: Twenty times more use Pitocin Induction (to accelerate or induce labor):  In the hospital: Twice as much used   Analgesia & Anesthesia:  In the hospital: Nine times more use   Episiotomy:  In the hospital: Nine times greater incidence, while at the same time they had more incidence of severe tears in need of major repair.   Infant Distress in Labor:  In the hospital: Six times more distress   Maternal High Blood Pressure:  In the hospital: Five times more cases Postpartum Hemorrhage:  In the hospital: Three times greater Infection of Newborn:  In the hospital: Four times more cases Newborn Needing Help to Breathe:  In the hospital: Three times more babies needed help Birth Injuries:  In the hospital: There were THIRTY cases of birth injuries, including skull fractures, facial nerve palsies, brachial nerve injuries and severe cephalohematomas. THERE WERE NO SUCH INJURIES AT HOME.   Infant Death Rate:  Infant death rate was low in both groups and essentially the same. Maternal Death Rate:  There were no maternal deaths for either group. Length of Labor: The overall length of labor at home was longer: First stage of labor:  12 hours compared to 8 for hospital. Second stage of labor:  72 minutes vs. an average of 42 for hospital. Third stage (birth of the placenta): averaged 21 minutes for home and 5 minutes for hospital. These differences are explained in terms of the customary hospital procedures that hasten labor (pitocin, amniotomy (breaking the waters), forceps, fundal pressure, cord traction in 3rd stage, etc.) whereas at home, labor was customarily allowed to progress at its own natural pace without such interventions.   The superior outcomes of the home birth group would suggest that the philosophy of hospital obstetrics to rush and shorten labors in not in the best interest of the mother or the baby's safety. This study thus proved a significant improvement of the mother and baby's health if the couple planned a homebirth.