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Well, I have to say I'm a lot more encouraged about the idea of a homebirth/birth center after these replies. In an ideal world I'd be able to have a midwife's care in a hospital setting, but that isn't an option here. I will definitely follow up on your suggestions for interviewing midwives. I think a lot of my comfort level with a home or birth center birth will depend on finding someone whose experience and expertise I can trust. Thanks so much for the encouraging advice!

I hope you don't mind a post from a non-nurse here, but I would appreciate your advice and opinions on birth outside the hospital setting. I am considering a midwife for my next pregnancy because I feel that my prenatal & labor care would be much better. My OB (and I think this is probably pretty standard) triple-booked for 15 minute appointment slots during my pregnancy, so my average visit was about 5 minutes. And of course, during labor, she was there for just over an hour of my 32-hour labor. Most midwives in my area allow 45 minutes per appointment and tend to stay with women during their entire labor. With that said, the midwifery program at our hospital has been discontinued and if I were to choose a midwife I'd have to deliver in a non-hospital birthing center or at home. Is it worth the risk? I'm two minutes from the hospital at my house. Most homebirth information I've found glosses over the possible dangers. I'd like to know, from your experience, if you would recommend homebirth for a low-risk pregnancy.