Why A Home Birth?

1. Safety
Studies have consistently shown that planned home births, attended by an experienced midwife, have excellent outcomes, both for mothers and babies. Birth injuries are fewer, there are drastically less infections, and fewer babies and mothers die, compared to equal numbers of hospital births. Industrialized countries using midwives as primary birth attendants have much better neonatal and maternal mortality and morbidity rates than those using the doctor/hospital/technological model of care.

2. Comfort
A secondary benefit is the ease and comfort afforded families by having babies at home. The mother remains more relaxed, can move about freely, and follow her natural instincts in giving birth. In nature, animals seek out a quiet, dark, private place to give birth. Labor shuts down if disturbed by others. Humans, too, feel impeded by bright lights and the presence of busy strangers.

3. Cost
Midwives cost a lot less than doctors, and there is no additional charge for hospital and nursery. Most families can actually save thousands of dollars. Even with many forms of health insurance, paying a midwife out-of-pocket is generally less expensive than the cost of premiums, the deductible and usual co-payments.

4. Environmental Impact
The waste generated by a hospital birth is tremendous. A home birth creates far less waste, usually about one-fourth of a grocery bag worth of paper garbage and perhaps one small load of laundry. Choosing home birth is a very real way of lessening your impact on our precious natural resources.

5. Emotional and Spiritual Elements Preserved
Midwives see birth as a beautiful, natural process that brings great joy to a birthing family. Rather than being a routine clinical event, the experience becomes a very special highlight of a woman's life. These wondrous events are best celebrated in the warm, close, intimate atmosphere of the home, rather than a busy medical facility.

Thanks to Judy Edmunds for these words of wisdom!