- checking login information
Loading...35 Reasons to Choose a Home Birth
- Veronica, selected from Green Options
- May 15, 2009
- 1:02 pm
- 72 comments
Derek Markham, Eco Child’s Play
Why do I think a home birth is so much better than a hospital birth?
I’ve experienced a planned hospital birth, a planned home birth that ended with an induced hospital birth (and a month-early preemie) because of pre-eclampsia, and two home births. I am a big proponent of giving birth at home because of these experiences. The hospital births did not end up being horrible, and the nurses and doctors were (mostly) good people, yet after the home birth, I can’t imagine doing it any other way.
One major reason is that while a male OB/GYN may be technically proficient in his field, the fact that he hasn’t given birth, and can’t ever give birth, gives the midwife and doula a huge advantage in terms of actually relating to and understanding birth from a woman’s perspective.
35 Reasons to Give Birth at Home (in no particular order):
1. Home birth is safer – Your house is a lot less likely to be a source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and it’s not full of sick people.
2. Your chances are getting a C-section are reduced with a home birth.
3. It’s cheaper – A midwife’s fee is much less costly than a hospital stay.
4. You don’t have to go anywhere.
5. The food is way better at home. Organic food? Vegan? No problem.
6. You don’t have to have strangers at your birth (unless you want to).
7. Your home is always more comfortable than any hospital room.
8. Everything you need is there.
9. You can be as green as you want. Hospitals aren’t known for natural soaps, cleaners, or recycled-content anything.
10. You control the environment at home. If you want to dim all the lights or open a window, you just do it.
11. Birth is a sacred experience. What better setting could there be?
12. It’s so much quieter at home. There are no cabinets full of blinky lights, fans, and humming devices. Well, maybe some of you have that… But probably not in your bedroom. And you can power them down if you want.
13. Home birth is just more fun!
14. Your older kids can be a part of the birth.
15. Your pets can attend. Seriously. Pets are family, too.
16. Giving birth at home is an exceptionally empowering experience. We can take back birth from The Man.
17. No silly hospital gown is necessary at home. Wear whatever you want, or wear nothing.
18. You don’t need an ID bracelet for the mother or the baby when you birth at home.
19. You can choose the room for your birth, or change rooms in the middle. Not an option at the hospital.
20. Giving birth outside is an option with a home birth. Our first home birth was in our front yard, in a birthing tub, and our second in a tipi in our yard. It’s probably not an possibility for most city dwellers, but our second home birth was just on the other side of the fence from a public school (and recess ended just as active labor came on…)
21. No paperwork is necessary at your home birth.
22. You can cut the umbilical cord when you are good and ready. The speed at which they want to snip our newborn’s lifeline is unbelievable.
23. No gadgetry on the mother: A home birth midwife doesn’t require you to wear a monitor or get an IV started “just in case”.
24. You don’t have to sign out when you leave your house.
25. Your family doesn’t have to negotiate a giant parking lot and endless hallways to visit you.
26. A heating pad does not cost $50 to use.
27. You can have as much sage, incense, candles, whatever, as you like.
28. There is no pressure to circumcise, vaccinate, or apply for a Social Security number for your baby right after a home birth.
29. You don’t end up with a “gift bag” (marketing samples) from big corporate America, full of disposable diapers, formula, baby wipes, shampoo, soaps, and brand propaganda.
30. Your baby’s placenta does not become a biohazard. We left our placenta at the hospital, but we planned to bury it, so I drove back, all bleary-eyed, and asked for it. They weren’t going to give it to me, even though we had our name on it in the fridge (just like lunch…) We had to call the OB and have her sign off on the release, and then I had to sign about four different forms, and then they finally gave it to me in a bag with “Biohazard” all over it. Sheesh.
31. The dad has a bed at home. Sleeping on a foldout cot next to the hospital bed sucks.
32. Nobody comes in, wakes you up, and checks your vitals every half hour at home.
33. You can stream the live video of the birth to all your friends (Pay-per-view home births?) OK, I’m kidding.
34. Having a home birth is different. Different is cool.
35. The hospital is open 24 hours, so if you need it, it will be there.
I know that it isn’t for everyone, but if you feel at all drawn to home birth, I say, “Go for it – it’s not as mysterious as it sounds.” It’s the way women have always given birth. Only recently has birth become the domain of the doctor and hospital, the insurance company and the pharmacy.
I’ve listed 35 of the reasons that we choose home birth, but I’d love to be able to change the title to read “75 Reasons…” or “100 Reasons…”, so help me out here by leaving a comment.
Green Options Media is a network of environmentally-focused blogs providing users with the information needed to make sustainable choices. Written by experienced professionals, Green Options Media’s blogs engage visitors with authoritative content, compelling discussions, and actionable advice. We invite anyone with questions, or simply curiosity, to add their voices to the community, and share their approaches to achieving abundance.
Read more: Babies, Family, Health, Pregnancy, Babies, birth, homebirth, hospital, newborns, pegnancy
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
Fabulous! Nothing like helping tortoises and turtles...especially when laying their eggs by the sid…
Mice are not people, people are not mice. Studies involving humans would prove a point. I need a bi…
Hopefully, they will be together for a long time.
thanks
@Anne M To put yours another way: Sticks and Stones may break my bones but Whips and Chains Excit…
72 comments
+ add your ownSome people feel more comfortable giving birth in the hospitals and some feel comfortable giving birth at home. Either way you choose, you should have a back up plan. If you planned a hospital birth, you should still be prepared for emergency situation if your baby comes out while you're still at home, in a car, or at a public place. If you decide on a home birth, also have a back up plan. Everyone should respect other people's choices.
I would have preferred a home birth. Just the drive to the hospital was traumatic enough. It would have been wonderful to stay home and relax....
I had 5 children.The 1st was born in a hospital,way back in the dark ages.{ 32 years ago }I was shaved,given an enema,an Iv was put in just in case,and I was forced to be flat on my back during 8 hours of back labor.If I tried to move,the monitor around my stomach was disturbed,and I was chastised.The next 4 kids were born at home.One was even born while I sat on the toilet.I found the toilet to be the most comfortable experience.The placentas were buried in the yard under a newly planted tree for each baby.
One more reason: you can choose any position you like while giving birth. In hospitals you have to lie on you back and give birth against the gravitation force (which is unbelievably difficult!) therefore womwn have more pain and pressure on their bones including spine.
After 2 planned home births and one actually done, I can add even more reasons to that list. Hospital birth is just so terrifying and horrible by comparison. Better midwives at home, better support, one on one care, you don't have to worry about that whole "am I in labor?" issue - it just keeps going on. It's every woman's and baby's right to be able to have that choice.
Great article and some good common sense in there.
I agree that home birth is best unless there are grounds for worry regarding the health of either mother or baby.
It's a lot less stressful for all and eases up on overworked hospital staff.
What better than the comforts of home surrounded by loving family to help the mother recover and give the baby a happy start to life.
Thanks for the article, Derek, I vote yes (I'm a home birth myself).
Worth considering in the future, thanks!
We had all five of our kids at home. And we both participated in the births. Hospitals are cesspools for death and disease. And at home, you don't have the automatic cutting and the drugs (too potent for the tiny baby's body), all for the convenience of the doctors. Plus, you get to keep your baby with you from day one. Natural home birth -- it's been a proven method for thousands of years.
I had a hospital birth with our first child. With our second, we're having her at home. So excited!!
for my fourth child i definetely want a home birth. I had three babies in hospitals and while it was a satisfactory experience, i'd much prefer the intimacy and comforts of home :)
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment