Exploring Birth PatternsAmerican citizens do not realize the freedoms they have in the birthing process. Instead of knowing all the avenues women can choose from in the United States, most think the only option is the hospital. It is not common knowledge that midwifery may be the best choice for most women who are healthy and capable of having children. This situation is reinforced by more than one factor. Historically, midwives were exiled by the medical elite at the turn of the 20th century. Another aspect to take into account is that the birth process is generational, that is, the tradition is transmitted from the mother to her own daughter. These two factors play a major role in maintaining popular standards for childbirth in America. These reasons cause most people to lose interest when midwifery advocates attempt to convey their message. Through the examination of American birth patterns, emphasis will be placed on the following: the historical context of midwifery to modern assumptions, the comparison and contrast of American practices compared to other countries around the world and the financial crisis. and the services a mother would receive from an obstetrician/gynecologist rather than a midwife. These three factors will be used to fully illustrate the importance and necessity of a midwife during childbirth, advocate for knowledge of midwifery among the general public, and call on more American women to take advantage of such a powerful opportunity by learning about midwifery. options they have when they become pregnantIt is wrong to assume that the stigmas that exist today around midwifery methods of practice are products of the past. Much information in today's society is recent and biased against middle of paper......ril 1). “I had no right”: the words that steal our birth power. Best Daily. Retrieved May 1, 2014 from http://www.bestdaily.co.uk/your-life/news/a567116/i-was-not-allowed-the-words-that-steal-our-birth-. power.html MacDorman, Ph. D, M. Mathews, MS, T. & Declercq, Ph.D., E. Home births in the United States, 1990-2009. NCHS Data Sheet, 84, 1-8. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db84.pdf Neporent, L. (2014, January 16). The cost of giving birth varies 10 times, according to a study. ABC News. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/cost-giving-birth-varies-10-fold-study-finds/story?id=21547172 Woodward, B. (2010, January 1). Kingwood's mother had all four limbs amputated after a home birth. KHOU khou.com. Accessed May 2014 from http://www.kvue.com/news/state/Kingwood-mother-has-all-four-limbs-amputated-after-home-birth-91905464.html