What Kind Of Crazy Mom Gives Birth at Home?

Well me of course! I am very open about the fact that we are choosing to birth this baby at home and I have to admit, most people are very encouraging. Others are supportive, but ask why we would want to make this choice and express concern over my or the baby's safety. I really do appreciate that concern, heck I feel the same concern when I hear a friend is choosing various things at their birth. It is hard to not pass that concern along when we care about someone and no one means to be critical, myself included. As a doula and friend, I really want to support all women in having and making choices, but sometimes I admit, I just don't get why people choose what they choose. I expect that applies to people wondering about my choices as well, so I thought I would write a bit about why *I* am choosing to birth my baby at home.

At home, labor is allowed to progress normally and at its own pace without unnecessary intervention or time constraints. Homebirth careproviders and families see birth as a normal aspect of life, and not a sickness to be managed. Homebirth prevents the disruption of our household and our other children and it tends to make birth a family and spiritual affair rather than a medical event. At home, I can include whomever I desire for support and do not have to be cared for by strangers or walked in on by random hospital staff looking for other hospital staff. I can move as I desire, wear what I want, eat and drink what my body tells me to and trust God's design for my body.

But for all the wonderfulness of the previous paragraphs, I would not choose a homebirth if it was safer to be someplace else. Luckily, statistics constantly show that home is the safest place for normal healthy moms to have their babies (In my case, normal could be up for debate, but I am healthy!) . Midwives who provide home birth care have the lowest rates of interventions, including the lowest rate of cesarean surgery and episiotomy of any other care provider. (Fraser et al. 2000) In addition, mothers who give birth at home are less likely to suffer a birth related injury and are the least likely to have a post partum infection. Having had a birth injury myself during the birth of my first child, I don't consider that a small detail.

So what about the pain? Yes, it is true that I won't be able to choose an epidural at home unless I want to transfer. This is probably a good thing because I know ahead of time there will come a moment when I will consider an epidural a good idea. However, knowing that ahead of time, I can plan how I want to be supported during my labor and I will have access to anything and everything non-pharmaceuticaly related that I desire. I will have loving hands and loving hearts surrounding me, a warm tub, someone to bring me tea, rub my back and pray with me. One of the most spiritual experiences in all of life may be carrying and giving birth to a baby. How amazing to be a part of the Lord's ability to create...and how cool is it that he is sharing that ability with me! Growing and delivering a baby is amazing and a miracle - one I wish to experience completely and not one I want to numb or get through as quickly as possible.

I hope that helps explain our choice, and trust me, I am happy to listen to any of my friends, clients, family etc. explain why they are making the choices they make. Like I say on my doula publicity, informed choices make for amazing births. So the more women are talking...the better it is for everyone.