And before you accuse us hospital birth attendants of unnecessary intervention, I want to point out that this is true even for first-time moms who are committed to non-interventive births. Transfer rates to the hospital during home or birth center birth are markedly higher (30% vs 4%!) for first time moms, as shown by this study. First births are harder, and this is a fact of nature that we just can’t wish or birth plan our way out of.