Choosing a Birth Setting: A Shared Decision‐Making Approach

• Published in: Journal of midwifery & women's health Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 510 - 514
• Main Authors: George, Erin K., Mitchell, Stephanie, Stacey, Dawn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2022
• Subjects: birth centers; birth setting; Birthing centers; Childbirth & labor; Clinical decision making; Decision making; Health disparities; Health status; home birth; hospital birth; patient decision aid; Patient-centered care; Perinatal; perinatal care; Prenatal education; shared decision‐making; birth centers; perinatal care; hospital birth; patient-centered care; home birth; shared decision-making; birth setting; patient decision aid
• ISSN: 1526-9523; 1542-2011
• DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13377

Perinatal outcomes vary widely depending on individual birth settings (birth center, home, and hospital). The purpose of this case study is to explore a patient‐centered, shared decision‐making approach to achieve an informed, values‐based choice about birth settings. Engaging in a shared decision‐making approach regarding birth setting options would support people to have the information and ability to judge for themselves how benefits and risks across birth center, home, and hospital settings would best fit with their values and personal health. A patient decision aid about birth setting options could facilitate increased equity regarding access to birth settings that offer improved perinatal health outcomes, helping to reduce perinatal health disparities in the United States.