Ohio Home Birth Safety FAQs

Every family deserves the right to choose where and with whom they give birth. For low-risk pregnancies, planned home birth with a qualified midwife is a safe, evidence-based option that improves outcomes, increases patient satisfaction, and reduces strain on the healthcare system.

Unfortunately, misinformation and outdated assumptions still shape policy decisions around midwifery care. Below are clear, research-backed answers to the most common questions surrounding home birth.

Midwife supporting a mother in labor in a bathtub.

Is home birth safe?

Yes—for healthy individuals experiencing low-risk pregnancies, studies consistently show that planned home birth with a trained midwife is as safe as hospital birth, with fewer interventions and a lower risk of cesarean delivery.

A landmark 2020 study in The Lancet found that home birth with qualified providers in integrated systems leads to excellent outcomes for mothers and babies. 

Who is a candidate for home birth?

Home birth is appropriate for individuals who:

• Are healthy and experiencing a low-risk pregnancy

• Are between 37 and 42 weeks gestation

• Have no major medical or obstetric complications

Midwives carefully screen clients throughout pregnancy to ensure that home remains the safest setting. If risk factors emerge, the client is transferred to a hospital-based provider—often seamlessly, thanks to strong collaborative relationships.

What kind of training do home birth midwives have?

Home birth midwives in Ohio often hold the Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) or Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential. 

The CPM credential includes:

• Extensive clinical apprenticeship and academic training

• Certification by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)

• Competency in emergency care, newborn resuscitation, and maternal stabilization

• Continuing education and peer review

Ohio currently lacks full licensure for CPMs, but the Buckeye Birth Coalition is working to change that. Licensure ensures quality, safety, and accountability—just like in the 37 other states that already license CPMs.

What happens if there’s an emergency?

Midwives are trained to detect complications early and act quickly. If a transfer becomes necessary, the midwife:

• Notifies the receiving hospital

• Provides complete records

• Accompanies the client if needed

• Continues providing support through the transition

Most transfers from home birth are non-urgent—for example, when labor stalls or the client requests pain relief. Urgent situations are rare, and midwives are trained in life-saving skills including:

• Neonatal resuscitation

• Managing postpartum hemorrhage

• Stabilization for transport

How are home births monitored and documented?

Midwives use evidence-based protocols and keep records through charting client progress. A typical home birth includes:

• Regular prenatal visits (45–60 minutes) that last longer than an average OB visit

• Continuous risk screening

• Informed consent and shared decision-making

• Immediate postpartum care for both birthing person and baby

Some midwives also contribute to state-level perinatal data registries or quality improvement initiatives—when licensure and infrastructure support it.

Are home births cost-effective?

Yes. Home birth costs significantly less than hospital birth—often 40–60% lower—and usually results in:

• Fewer interventions (such as epidurals or cesareans)

• Shorter recovery times

• Reduced strain on maternity wards

For Medicaid and insurance programs, this represents an opportunity for cost savings without compromising safety. But only if qualified midwives are recognized, licensed, and reimbursed.

How do we ensure safety and quality in home birth care?

The clearest path forward is through state licensure for Certified Professional Midwives. Licensure:

• Ensures standardized education and certification

• Sets clear scope of practice guidelines

• Enables collaboration and data-sharing with other providers

• Makes it easier to integrate home birth into Ohio’s broader maternity care system

With licensing in place, Ohio families will have greater access to safe, legal home birth care, and our healthcare system will benefit from more coordinated, cost-effective maternal health services.