Choosing a Home Birth

photo adapted from jessica.diamond

Is it Safe?!?

Choosing a home birth is not just for the brave. or the insane. It’s not really even that radical of an idea; though society would have us believe that. Prior to the introduction of hospital births 100+/- years ago, home was where you had your baby. Oh, yes there has been a drastic reduction in the amount of fatalities surrounding birth in the past 100+/- years however I think it’s important to take note of the progress we’ve made in the area of hygiene as well. I think that, more than location, is the biggest contributing factor.

There have been many, many studies done on the subject of homebirth safety and it is generally concluded that planned homebirths are just as safe as hospital births. In fact, studies show planned homebirths have significantly less medical interventions and result in less C-sections. To be fair though, the homebirth pool contains only low-risk women to begin with.  Studies also show that women who choose to birth at home generally report being happier overall with their overall birth experience. Though regardless of where you give birth, no doubt most women are delighted with the outcome.

My Experience

If you missed it, the story of my switch from OB to midwife at 26 weeks and my resulting home birth decision can be found here. When I first made the decision to have a home birth, I was:

• terrified I couldn’t handle the pain!
• concerned about the mess and envisioned blood and birth fluid gushing down my stairs.
• concerned about emergencies?

It turns out that I can handle the pain, because there is no option. It also seems that the “huffy puffy” breathing I made fun of does come in handy and that water is an incredible pain reliever. {love my tub!} It is also true that while after the fact you view the labor in terms of hours, during labor, you’re focused on one contraction at a time and one contraction is manageable!

As for the mess, there was gushing but it wasn’t down the stairs. I have to admit, a part of me was surprised at the amount of fluid from my water breaking {and I now wear disposable underwear during labor so I don’t have to worry. Yep, I just admitted that to the world!} as well as all the fluid that you gush after the birth. That being said, with a waterproof pad or a vinyl tablecloth under your mattress and a few old towels, there really isn’t that much laundry or mess afterwards. Really.

This may sound naive but there are less “emergencies” in childbirth that you think. Because midwives are specialists in normal, healthy deliveries, anything out of the ordinary beforehand is usually quickly spotted. Any concerns and their recommendation would be a hospital delivery. During delivery, they do bring oxygen, medication for hemorrhaging etc. The most common reason for a transfer to the hospital is long labor with a tired momma who would like medication or a midwife who has concerns about the lack of progression. Also, if there are any concerns at all during the delivery, the midwife is likely to spot them and the transfer is done before it becomes an emergency state. That being said, there is always the risk of a true emergency and there are unhappy endings at homes and hospitals.

Quick List of Perks in Random Order

1. The hospital is full of sick people. My house isn’t {though I do have a 4yo and 2 yo so sometimes it is}.
2. Less likely to have interventions.
3. I don’t have to worry about when to go to the hospital. I don’t have to go anywhere at all. {Though I do have a hospital bag packed just in case}.
4. I’ve gotten to know my midwives and their backups. The woman helping me birth my baby is familiar. In these parts, if you have a hospital birth, whichever doctor on call delivers your baby.
5. I just plain like my house. I’m comfortable here. I believe that my body can labor naturally and for effectively if I feel comfortable and safe.
6. I don’t have to be hooked up to monitors etc. ‘routinely’.
7. I can eat and drink what I want at home. I don’t like hospital food.
8. I can walk around naked comfortably. I can just wear on oversized T-shirt.  I can watch TV. I can soak in my big tub or relax in my oversized shower. I can have whoever I want present…or no one at all. I value my freedom.
9. It’s quieter at home with no one laboring in the room next to me, across from me or down the hall.
10. Everything I need and want is here. I don’t have to figure out what the “essentials” are, being limited by what I can carry in a bag.
11. I’m less likely to be rushed and less likely to have a C-section.
12. I can walk around outside, lay in my bed, bounce on my exercise ball or rock in my rocking chair.
13. My husband is more comfortable here.
14. I can give birth on my bathroom floor {which is where I ended up with Chloe} or my bedroom floor {where I ended up with John} and I can change rooms, positions, places etc. in the middle of it all if it isn’t working for me.
15. It’s easy for visitors to come and go.
16. There isn’t a whole ton of paperwork and I don’t have to wait to be discharged before going home.
17. My children can meet our new baby right away. They don’t have to be concerned about mommy going away for a few nights/days. I’m always right here.
18. Giving birth is special; a miracle of God. No matter where you give birth, that doesn’t change – but for me, I’m happy to celebrate that miracle in our home. 
19. There is no time frame rushes. I can labor then push at a rate that is good for my body. We can cut the cord in our own time, I can nurse leisurely in my bed right away with all the newborn stuff {like weighing and measuring} waiting until I’m ready.
20. My husband or I can catch the baby ourselves.
21. DH had emailed out pictures of our babies within minutes of their births.
22. You aren’t sharing a room with 1 or 3 other mothers who just had babies. {Never experienced it but can’t imagine trying to get sleep in between 4 newborns night feeding schedules}. Also, no one bothering me about my blood pressure, temperature etc. while I am trying to nap.
23. Your midwife will come to you for your checkups for the first week. You really don’t have to go anywhere!
24. And not that this was a deciding factor but in Ontario, the cost of your midwife is covered by the province and it costs the province of Ontario a LOT less for you to have a midwife and birth at home. And you’re helping reduce the strain on the healthcare system.

A homebirth with a midwife is a a wonderful, viable, safe choice for women who are healthy with low risk pregnancies. I share this post and my birth stories to raise awareness.  But homebirth is not for everyone! For those who have health issues or any sort of risk involved with their pregnancy, your OB is the best choice you could possibly make and I am thankful that we have the medical facilities available today that we do! Even as I choose to birth at home, I am thankful to know that a transfer to the hospital is an option.

Homebirth veterans, feel free to add to the list in the comments. If you’ve never had a homebirth, what would be your biggest fear?

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