Why home birth is a safe, smart alternative to hospital birth
There's nothing like the feeling of watching parents meet their baby- except the feeling I had when I met my babies.
It truly is a sacred, special thing to witness.
Which is why I am so pro-home birth- because it promotes the stillness, sacredness and privacy of birth.
Home birth is also an incredibly safe alternative to hospital birth- which may be something that surprises you! We have it in our heads that hospitals are the ultra safe option for birthing families. And that couldn't be further from the truth.
I know this is a spicy hot take, so bear with me. I'll be sharing my thoughts on why home birth is a safe alternative- and perhaps, the safest choice- to hospital birth.
DISCLAIMER: Before I move forward, I want to make something clear- I am grateful for hospitals, and that they are there when we need them. I am thankful for doctors and nurses. This blog may come across that I despise them, and that couldn't be further from the truth!
I know this is a spicy hot take, so bear with me. I'll be sharing my thoughts on why home birth is a safe alternative- and perhaps, the safest choice- to hospital birth.
DISCLAIMER: Before I move forward, I want to make something clear- I am grateful for hospitals, and that they are there when we need them. I am thankful for doctors and nurses. This blog may come across that I despise them, and that couldn't be further from the truth!
1) Home birth midwives and Traditional Family Centered Birth Companions receive years upon years of training in order to do what they do.
These birth professionals go through much training, experiences and education to provide the best care and comfort for their clients.
2) Birth is not a medical event.
2) Birth is not a medical event.
Hospitals are great at surgeries and emergencies. Birth rarely needs to be these things. Think about it, we rarely go to the hospital to have our period or to make a baby- and when there's an issue with either of those things, we do seek out help. But it's the exception, not the norm. Which leads me to my next point...
3) If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Meaning, hospitals are primed for dealing with emergencies, medical necessiteis, broken bones and sickness. Even though birth is none of these things, hopsital staff are more prone to look at it that way because that is how they are trained.
4) Just like sex, birth happens best when the birthing people are comfortable and safe.
3) If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Meaning, hospitals are primed for dealing with emergencies, medical necessiteis, broken bones and sickness. Even though birth is none of these things, hopsital staff are more prone to look at it that way because that is how they are trained.
4) Just like sex, birth happens best when the birthing people are comfortable and safe.
Home birth offers the freedom of having the lights off, your own clothes on or no clothes at all, the privacy to sleep without interruption...all things that are nearly impossible to have at a hospital.
The hospital routines (taking your blood pressure every so often, nurses coming in and out, machines beeping, etc) also make relaxing, sleeping and mediating very, very difficult.
5) Comfort measures work better at home.
At a hospital, you do have the option for pain relief- but there are so many things you can do during labor to comfort yourself that work best when you are relaxed and comfortable. Birthing people are rarely at their most comfortable in a bright, sterile room with strangers coming in and out as they please.
5) Comfort measures work better at home.
At a hospital, you do have the option for pain relief- but there are so many things you can do during labor to comfort yourself that work best when you are relaxed and comfortable. Birthing people are rarely at their most comfortable in a bright, sterile room with strangers coming in and out as they please.
And because of hospital policies, sometimes those comfort measures are difficult or impossible to access.
For instance, being hooked up to an IV or baby monitors make using a rebozo or getting into a warm bath very hard. And if you receive an epidural, even though you get relief from pain, there’s such a limit to the positions and methods that would bring your baby further down the pelvis because of the wires, numbness, etc.
6) Consent matters.
This is 2022- we all should know the importance of consent by now. And in my experience, the consent of birthing parents is far more respected by midwives and home birth workers than it is by hospital staff.
6) Consent matters.
This is 2022- we all should know the importance of consent by now. And in my experience, the consent of birthing parents is far more respected by midwives and home birth workers than it is by hospital staff.
Obviously, there are emergencies that happen where it may not be appropriate or safe to ask permission before every single little thing- but those emergencies are true emergencies, and don't need to be explained. They shouldn't be happening in almost every birth!
My home births were the most empowering, incredible experiences. I look back on them often and fondly, with joy and excitement.
My home births were the most empowering, incredible experiences. I look back on them often and fondly, with joy and excitement.
Every birthing person deserves the right to be able to look back on their birth with pride. Birth trauma shouldn't be a part of so many people's stories- and that is why I became a doula.
To spark the change, the shift in how we see birth for the everyday parent, who deserves their rights and wishes respected.
To spark the change, the shift in how we see birth for the everyday parent, who deserves their rights and wishes respected.
XOXO,
Rachel
Rachel
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