Everyone Healthy and Happy A few decades ago in the developing world and a century ago in advanced nations, hospital births were only for birthing women who were near death, and only half of the fetuses survived. That has changed, particularly in Asia, where women prefer to give birth in hospitals. Hospital births themselves are not what they were. Most new mothers participate in the process: Here Le Thi Nga is about to greet her newborn after pulling with all her strength on the belt that helped her push out the head.