Why a Homebirth?

Why a homebirth?

Homebirth is not a new trendy thing to do. Before hospitals, birth was always at home. Now you may be thinking "well that's because the hospitals made birth safer". That's not necessarily the case. Hospitals do not create the right environment for a natural birth. Many people associate hospitals with being sick or dying which leads to this fear of needing assistance. The bright lights, the uncomfortable bed and clothing, all of these strangers coming in to check you every 30 minutes are all disrupting the natural labor process. This can slow and sometimes stall or even stop labor, which is why so many interventions have become routine use. Not because we need them to give birth but because natural birth is not supported well in a hospital. When you are home it is familiar, you feel safe there, you decide who gets to enter your birth space. This creates the perfect environment and will let all of the oxytocin flow through your body which is needed to progress labor. No need for any interventions to speed it up because by deciding to birth at home you have already set yourself up for the best way to labor and give birth. Still not convinced? Here are some top reasons why you should at least consider a homebirth!

Informed decisions

Choosing a homebirth means that you will be able to make your own informed decisions whether you are choosing to hire a midwife or decided on a freebirth. Either way both options will support this. Unlike most hospitals where they make the decisions for you.

Less interventions

Almost every intervention that is used in a hospital will not be available at your home. Although midwives do bring some tools that would be considered an intervention, they are less likely to actually use any of them.

Knowing your birth team

For a homebirth YOU get to choose who is on your birth team, you get to decide who enters into your birth space! This is so important because that means you will again feel safe and comfortable. In the hospital you have nurses who constantly change shifts, sometimes even the OB will change.

Physiological birth

In your home you feel comfortable and safe. The hospital setting often is uncomfortable and can feel scary based off of any previous events you may have experienced in a hospital. This fear can stall or even stop labor. By feeling safe your body will naturally allow labor to progress.

Freedom of restrictions

You know that saying “my house, my rules”? In a hospital you would be following their policies and “rules”. They often tell you what you are and aren’t allowed to do. In your home you get to make the rules for your own birth.

Being in your own home

There really is “no place like home”. In your home you feel comfortable and safe, it’s familiar. The hospital setting is often uncomfortable and can feel scary based off of any previous events you may have experienced in a hospital. This fear can stall or even stop labor. By feeling safe your body will naturally allow labor to progress.

Want more?

If you’re thinking “wow I want to learn more about homebirth now but I have no idea where to even start” then you’re in luck because the absolute best place to start would be with the Homebirth Starter Bundle that I (a 2x homebirth mama and doula) created to help you start your journey on preparing for a homebirth! Actually you just read a few pages directly from the bundle by reading this blog. Inside you'll find information about creating your birth team which is a very important first step when planning a homebirth, included with questionnaire print outs to take with you to interviews! Or maybe you're ready to fully commit, then the Homebirth Guide is where you'd want to start! If you have any questions shoot me an email at birthsathome@gmail.com. I can’t wait to help you start this journey!

xo Esmeralda