Home births on the rise as social media influences younger parents

Only about 1% of births in the U.S. are done at home, with the vast majority of parents deciding to give birth in a hospital or medical setting. But as influential celebrities and content creators share their stories, those numbers have risen to at least 1.5% only in a few years. The Wall Street Journal took a look at the trend, and found that home births cost about $20,000 and much of that is not covered by most insurance carriers. Home birth advocates call out the medical system, which can patronize mothers and result in unnecessary procedures. The Birth Trauma Association found that 40% of women have intrusive interventions without their consent during birth, including episiotomies, cervical sweeps and vaginal exams. However, parents interviewed for the WSJ story shared harrowing stories about home births that became complicated, with one saying she would need therapy to get over the trauma.