December 25 is the least popular day to give birth in the US, Australia and New Zealand, and second only to Boxing Day on Dec. 26 in England, Wales and Ireland.
Where birthing on country is not offered, women leave their families weeks before birth. Or she can choose to give birth in her community without skilled birth attendants, which is risky.
Because of a supposed slight increase in the risk that the resulting child will be disabled, doubt has been cast on the morality of having a home delivery when one could have chosen to give birth in hospital…