Home birth or Hospital birth

My mother is a certified midwife and registered nurse, and had home-delivered scores of babies over the past forty years. She always recognized when something was wrong and got the hospital involved when necessary (which was only once), and firmly believes in natural birth.

Ironically, both my brother and I were born in a hospital - as she had an infection towards the end of my gestation and she had complications during my brother's birth. However, she did go without painkillers and delivered both of us vaginally; she had a very understanding OB doc who respected her principles.

As I plan on not having children, I never gave the home vs. hospital debate much thought. less

I'm a Lactation Consultant and have worked as a Doula and a nurse. I have many friends and clients who have had home births. IF you live fairly close to a hospital, and you need transport for an emergency during a home birth, I can assure you; you will be in the OR more quickly when transported from a home birth, if necessary, than you would if you were down the hall in labor IN the hospital. Hospitals take home birth emergencies (which are rare) very seriously, and I have NEVER seen a women brought into an Operating Room faster than when she comes in with fetal distress or bleeding or other rare problems from a home birth transport situation.

And, especially if you have a home birth and your labor has not been interfered with (which happens in about 97% or so of ALL hospital births and causes issues that would not have occurred) there is not "a lot" that can "go wrong." The human body usually births babies properly. Most women if left alone and not messed with during labor will have no problems. I have SO many friends who have had home births and only a few had interventions and/or transports. In over 20 years, I have only seen one tragedy that could have been prevented. But, this woman should have been transported sooner, and she made the poor decision that avoiding a C Section was more important than her child's life. THIS is very rare, and this entire family is a bit nutty about this stuff. They are not an indication of home birthing women.

The very fact that often in hospitals happen just so the staff feels they will have something to do is disgusting. The chances of a hospital causing a problem with an otherwise healthy labor is MORE common than issues happening spontaneously. The USA has some of the worst birth outcomes in any developed country.

There will always be women who do better with intense medical intervention during labor (like me) but these women are far and few. Most of the time, labor works! Especially if the woman isn't bothered and given drugs and attached to machines etc.

Most of the time, leaving a woman, carefully watched, to labor in a healthy way with NO intervention results in the most healthy births. The female body was made to give birth. It nearly always works. less

Births will go more smoothly the more relaxed and comfortable the mother is. Ideally birth should happen where the mother feels most safe. For me, that's at home. Hospitals make me incredibly nervous. In the hospital I was being poked and prodded and having equipment attached to me constantly. Do this! Do that! Would you like something for pain? You look like you could use something for pain. How about some pain medicine? It was incredibly annoying. I guarantee you it didn't improve my mental state.

A good home midwife can listen to the baby's heartbeat during contractions and watch for other signs to make sure the woman is moved to a hospital if there's any cause for concern. Plus if you have risk factors they won't allow you to give birth at home.

Plus I'm always skeptical when someone says they needed a C-section and thank god they were in a hospital. I know that many are unnecessary. I asked my Dr how close I was to having a C-section and he said that most doctors would have sectioned me but he saw signs that things would turn out ok so he let me deliver vaginally. And my son is fine. I know that if I had been sectioned, my husband would be one of the people exclaiming about how lucky we were that I was in a hospital.

I'm not trying to say home birth is for everyone. I just wish it had been in the cards for me. less

We don't have kids yet, but when we do they'll be born either at home with a licensed midwife or in a birthing center. It's a common misconception that home births are dangerous. For low-risk pregnancies, they are very safe--some studies have shown they're SAFER than hospital births. Think about it--a hospital is a place for sick people. There are lots of germs and viruses floating around. I don't want myself or my new baby exposed to that. Also, with home birth you have the freedom to control your atmosphere. You can play music, light candles, eat, drink, whatever. And no one is thrusting paperwork in your face in your vulnerable moments, either. I've heard horror stories of mothers who did not want certain vaccinations or to circumcise and were pushed into these decisions when they were exhausted from labor. I want to give birth on MY terms, no one else's. I'm looking forward to giving birth at home. less