The women were matched for age, number of previous births, economic status, and medical risk factors. Women in the homebirth group who transfered to the hospital due to complications remained in the homebirth group for analysis. Though the two groups had no statistical difference in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, the results of the study showed that planned hospital birth resulted in greater numbers of birth injuries, maternal and infant infections, hemmorhages, and low apgar scores than planned, midwife-attended homebirth. As they become aware of their choices, more and more families are choosing to birth their children in the comfort of their own homes with the help of midwives. In New Mexico families are fortunate to have the option of hiring licensed midwives to provide comprehensive maternity care and home birth services.
Licensed midwives specialize in caring for healthy women throughout their childbearing years.
The care provided by licensed midwives differs from that of nurse-midwives in many important ways. Unlike nurse-midwives, who receive their training and practice primarily in hospitals, licensed midwives train and provide care in home and birth center settings. Constrained by hospital and managed care policies, nurse-midwives typically are unable to spend large amounts of time with individual clients in prenatal visits. Large hospital practices leave clients unsure of which particular nurse-midwife will attend their births. Licensed midwives work in private practices and are able to dedicate great amounts of time to their clients.