Is Home Birth a Choice? Racial and Geographic Differences in Unintended Home Births in the U.S.
Anna De La Paz
The U.S. hit a 30-year high for home births in 2023. Unintended home births (i.e., those without planning or medical support) carry a higher likelihood of adverse outcomes. Rates of unintended home births are low among non-Hispanic White women (6–8%) but range from 33–61% among non-Hispanic Black women, depending on region and metro status.
April 7, 2026