According to AMA births should take place in the hospital or perhaps a birthing center. Is this reasonable? Who decides? And why?
Ricki Lake former talk show host has the AMA up in arms because of her documentary film, “The Business of Being Born.”

Birthing has changed dramatically especially in the West. Women, traditionally did just fine with the whole process, thank you. What was once, sacred and traditionally performed by wise women and priestesses has become the province of men and sterile places, which by the way harbor drug resistant organisms. A recent report states that most U.S. hospitals do a poor job of promoting breast feeding. Hospitals often give formula to more than half of healthy newborns. In an effort to keep babies quiet, sugar water is given. There are practices in hospital births that are unfeeling, can I say barbarous to say the least. When looked at objectively the newborn greeting seems to say welcome to the cold, cruel world instead of a world of love, acceptance and empowerment.

If a woman decides with her family to have a home birth, plans and prepares for it, more power to her. Oh, and if she wants to use the services of a midwife that is ok too.