Homebirth: Benefits and Philosophy

Benefits

• Statistically as safe as or safer than hospital birth.
• Positive and pleasant experience
• Comfort, security and familiarity of your own home
• One to one midwifery support
• Avoidance of medical intervention... all natural!
• Freedom to walk around freely
• Easier to let go and surrender at home (if this is where you feel most comfortable)
• Freedom to choose your place and position of birth
• Complication rates are lower than hospital births
• Labor is usually shorter than at a hospital
• Less blood loss
• No unnecessary inducement
• Relaxed and peaceful
• Water birth an option
• Not on your back or hooked up to machines
• Problems in labor usually develop slowly, allowing enough time to be transferred
• Midwives carry all necessary equipment (like a LDR or birth center)
• Less likely to need a caesarean section

Philosophy

• Birth is a natural process
• Women have given birth for centuries without interventions
• Control
• Taking responsibility for your own choices
• Birth is a celebration, not a disease
• Pain is a part of an essential and healthy feedback mechanism
• Miraculous
• Birth matters make an informed choice and take control of your experience
• Medical management of pregnancy and birth should be limited.