For some families, there's not a choice to be made on where to give birth.
It's home, without a doubt.
Home births are increasing in Arizona and nationally, but they are still far from common, accounting for less than 1 percent of the births here and nationwide.
Out of the state's 84,985 births in 2000, 454 were at home. In 2010, of the 87,053 babies born in Arizona, 657 arrived at home.
Nationwide, home births increased by 29 percent between 2004 and 2009, accounting for 29,650 births, or 0.72 percent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Home births are more common for women 35 and older, the CDC reports, and among women who have given birth before.
Families who choose home births do so for a number of reasons including greater comfort, lower risk of infection and no procedures to follow, the CDC reports.
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The pregnancy must be low-risk, said Tucson midwife Amy Zenizo.
Michelle Brosseau is the mother of seven children who had the last four under the watch of Zenizo. Brosseau, who now lives with her family in Flagstaff, had her first two children in a hospital, and the third with a Phoenix midwife.
"I was never completely comfortable in the hospital," said Brosseau, 42. "I found it stressful."
Birthing at home was much more relaxing and memorable, she said. Zenizo visited at home and became friendly with the family. The Brosseaus' photo albums contain many shots of Zenizo.
"Amy is part of our birthing story," she said. "She's a part of our lives in a way that's more lasting than when you give birth in a hospital with a doctor."
Zenizo, 47, has run a home-birth practice for 17 years and has traveled nationally and internationally to learn about midwifery. She studied midwifery in El Paso at Maternidad La Luz.
She works first to establish a relationship and trust with the mothers-to-be.
"Establishing these boundaries in a professional relationship, believing what they say, and respecting their needs, leads to miraculous, smooth, uncomplicated births," she said.
Zenizo was first inspired to do this work when she was 9, and her brother was born at her family's Tucson home. As an adult, she started out teaching natural childbirth classes and assisting in home births.
"It's the best job in the world. It pumps the blood through my veins," she said. "It's been an honor to work with every family whether it's a single teenager who is afraid or a family who is more established. Every family I work with is a gift."
Contact reporter Patty Machelor at pmachelor@azstarnet.com or 806-7754.
