With More People Giving Birth at Home, Montana lawmakers Passed a Pair of Laws to Make It Easier

Ashley Jones’ three children were born in three different places — a hospital, a birth center, and at home.

Jones, who is 31 and lives in Belgrade, Montana, said she had “zero control over what was going on” during her hospital birth. Jones wanted a midwife to help deliver her third child, and after finding one she clicked with, she decided to go with a home birth.

“I felt like I was in control of everything and she was there to listen to what I needed from her,” Jones said.

The only downside, from Jones’ perspective, was that her insurance didn’t cover home births attended by a midwife as an...