Studies there (sorry, don't have any references on hand, I'll try to get them posted later) show that home - birthing in this setting is just as safe for mother and child for a first birth, and safer for next births, than a hospital setting.
It's all about beingsafe rather thansorrylater so we aren't afraid to work a couple more years to have cushion, especially given our hopefully long retirement time horizon!
I did have another blogger tell me that she attempted this project (before mine) & had to take it down a week later because too many bugs were crawling out... I'd rather take 30 minutes to spray it down & besafe rather thansorry.