Why choose a home birth?

 **DISCLAIMER** Please also understand that this is solely my opinion, which is based off of my own experience- it is not a judgement of anyone's birth choices or experience. I simply want to share my knowledge on this subject!

"They know they can have the baby in the hospital, right?" My husbands grandparents posed their concern over our home birth to my sister in law after we left Thanksgiving dinner that year. I don't blame them- not only has birth become a source of fear and mystery, hospital birth is what's seen as the safest, sensible thing to do. 

And they are 100% valid- hospital births are an option most people choose. I'm not here to rag on them. What I am here to do is shed light on the fact that parents have a CHOICE. There are more options out there than what is presented on TV or what your mom did! 

This week I want to talk about why a home birth would be a good choice, and, ultimately, if it's the right choice for you. 

One of the biggest concerns I hear about home birth is the safety aspect. What if something goes wrong? What is mom has a hemorrhage? What if baby comes too early? 

If you are working with a midwife worth her salt (most of them are), they will recognize the emergency and either use their equipment to remedy the situation, or they will get you to a hospital. 

Many people think of a midwife as a little old lady who might have a little bag with nail clippers and a Nose Frida. But most midwives have bags and bags of equipment they bring with them to a birth. A resuscitation kit, sutures, a scale, oxygen and much more- midwives are trained professionals and are well prepared to deal with most things that can crop up during birth. 

Another concept many people struggle with when it comes to home birth is the idea that birth is a medical emergency. Birth is bloody, messy, intense and painful- but it is not a medical emergency. All of those could be said for a menstrual cycle, yet most people, if they are having a normal cycle, don't need to go to the hospital during that time. Obviously, there are exceptions- if you have a health problem or an emergency during your birth, it is prudent to seek medical attention! But if you are having a normal, healthy pregnancy- which most people do- there's no reason why you can't have a home birth. 

There are many reasons why having a hospital birth, if you are having a healthy and normal pregnancy, can lead to a less that satisfying birth experience. 

Again, I am NOT knocking hospitals- I am so grateful for them and our medical professionals! They are amazing at medical emergencies, which is why hospital birth can be so problematic- birth is NOT usually a medical emergency. 

OBGYNs and L&D nurses often have many patients at once and cannot always give each patient the time they need. They have a list of tasks to get through and honoring birth as a sacred experience is not their expertise. Hospitals are designed to treat sickness and surgery, which is often how they approach birth- they poke, prod, look at their watches and the goal is to get through the birth process with a mother and baby that are healthy and alive.

Which of course, sounds like a good goal. And we certainly want mother and baby to alive and well! But that also means emotionally and mentally well, the bond between mother and baby preserved and the autonomy of the mother intact. Home birth is designed to offer that. 

Can you have a wonderful, satisfying birth experience at a hospital? Absolutely! I know many people who have. And I would never try to sway someone from that choice if they wanted it. But this blog is about why choosing a home birth is something I suggest, and I cannot talk about it without presenting the cons of other birth choices. 

Birth Centers are another option many people choose, and it certainly a good one. It's a good mix between a home birth and a hospital birth. In my opinion. the best parts of home birth are negated by getting out of the house and going elsewhere to give birth. Birth centers also have you go home fairly quickly after birth, which a lot of movement and flurry right after birth! Again, not ragging on birth centers- I think there should be more of them! I just don't think anything compares to the pros of home birth. 

So- why, exactly, choose a home birth?

A home birth offers families a safe, familiar environment to have this intimate experience. Midwives are fully present with their client during the birth, not burdened with the concern of other patients. There's the freedom to have as much or as little light as possible and each family gets to choose their birth team, getting to know them intimately throughout the pregnancy. Home birth gives the mother freedom to eat, drink, go to the bathroom and move at her own discretion. Parents have the freedom and privacy to groan, move, and get into any position necessary. If their birth stalls, everyone can just go home, leaving them in the comfort of their own space. After the baby arrives, mom and dad can get into their OWN bed! Midwives will often take care of newborn duties while baby does skin to skin- no need to rip baby away from their parents! Birth choices are honored by the midwife, and parents don't need to argue their preferences (if you do- FIRE YOUR MIDWIFE). Delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin, freedom to move during birth- all of these things are simply understood in homebirth. No need to fight tooth and nail for your basic parental rights. Midwives will start the laundry before they leave, so need to worry about the mess. And you and your family get to snuggle into the peace of your own home- no car seat test, no nurses coming in at all hours- just you and your family. 

The magic and peace of a homebirth is unparalleled. I've had three and I think of them often- they were some of the best experiences I've ever had!

Homebirth is a valid, good choice for most families, more than you probably think! If you're interested in having a home birth, I encourage you to interview your local midwives and watch home birth videos on YouTube. My favorite are from JesssFam!

For more home birth info, affirmations, community and more, join my Facebook community here: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesemicrunchydoula