The strongest argument given for the home birth is found in the sixth chapter of Marsden Wagner’s book, Born in the USA. Wagner’s chapter is filled with historical background, but this only strengthens his argument. He asserts that the only evidence obstetricians have against home birth are studies which do not distinguish between planned and unplanned home-births (Wagner 139). This distinction is crucial in assessing and proving the safety of planned home births but such studies are still used against midwives. In addition to his methodology argument, Wagner offers another argument which states that obstetricians are against home births simply because they have no concrete knowledge about the midwifery practice and because of the competition home births pose. With the many examples he gives, Wagner is able to illustrate that home births are safe and reliable by means of discrediting the obstetricians against the practice.
Strongest argument in favor of hospital birth. …show more content…
Lyerly’s main point is a complicated one, in which she states that technology helps to better hospital births. She also points out that shame is the main source of women’s discomfort in both home and hospital births. In bringing up shame, Lyerly is able to show that those against hospital birth fail to address the core of the birthing experience, women’s emotions. Lyerly concludes that with agency, dignity and connectedness hospital births can provide good births, in conjunction with utilizing technology (Lyerly