By Rachel Younger, Sky News Correspondent
Giving birth in England and Wales is safer at a midwife-led centre than in hospital - even for first-time mothers - according to new advice.
Health advisory body the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said the latest evidence shows women with a low risk of complications are better off staying out of the labour ward.
Professor Mark Baker, clinical practice director at NICE, said: "Most women are healthy and have straightforward pregnancies and births.
"Over the years evidence has emerged which shows that, for this group of women, giving birth in a midwife-led unit instead of a traditional labour ward is a safe option.
"Research also shows that a home birth is generally safer than hospital for pregnant women at low risk of complications who have given birth before."
The advice means that 315,000 women a year - almost half of those giving birth - would be judged safe to give birth at a midwife-led unit or, with a midwife's help, at home.
Currently, nine out of 10 babies are delivered in hospital, ultimately under the care of an obstetrician.
The new evidence found that outcomes for all babies were the same across all settings, except for those being born at home to first-time mothers, where the risk of a serious medical problem is higher.
But Rhiannon Davies - whose baby girl Kate died six hours after being born at a Shropshire midwifery unit miles away from the nearest operating theatre - believes the advice is flawed.
An inquest into her daughter's death ruled she could have survived had she had been born in hospital.
Ms Davies told Sky News: "It's a value-for-money policy, it's a dangerous policy and it will put women's lives at risk.
"There's really no such thing as a straightforward pregnancy.
"Even as a second or third-time mother, you have no way of knowing if your baby might be born with a cord around its neck or whether your placenta will break down as you're delivering."
The new advice should save the NHS money as it is more expensive to give birth in hospital than in a specialist birth unit or at home.
Critics say that could force women into giving birth without doctors, against their wishes.
Midwives say its vital women are given the choice of where to deliver so they can make their own informed decisions.
Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "I think women are reluctant to give birth out of hospital because they believe hospitals are safest.
"In fact for those who don't have problems during pregnancy - we now know, this isn't true.
"It's very safe in midwifery left units or at home. In fact the outcomes for women are better and outcomes for babies just as good."
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