If you’d told me even five years ago that I would someday be having a home birth, I’d probably have told you you were crazy. While I’m a pretty “crunchy” person to begin with, the thought of birthing a baby out of the hospital setting initially unnerved me. I’ve always been a bit of a hypochondriac and lived a good chunk of my life wrapped up in what ifs and Dr. Google, despite a healthy distrust for allopathic medicine.
Then I had my first child. Although my desire was for an unmedicated birth, I’ll admit I didn’t do nearly enough mental or physical preparation beforehand. I focused more on the details of the baby registry than on preparing myself to give birth, not realizing the ultimate correlation to the birth experience. Because while, yes, things can go completely sideways during birth, the fact remains that being informed, prepared and having a plan sets you up for a positive birth experience. Even if things go differently than you wanted, which is what ended up happening with me. Thankfully, I had my husband and mother there to advocate for me when my requests were ignored by hospital staff.
When I was 15 months postpartum, I got pregnant again with my second. You’d think maybe I’d have done things a bit differently this time, but switching from an OB to a hospital midwife was about the only thing I changed. And I still ended up induced for being over a week “overdue.”
But let’s get to the details. I’m currently 30 weeks pregnant with our third, and have been seeing a home birth Certified Nursing Midwife for my prenatal care. She is also who will deliver my baby at home, Lord willing it all goes well. But why am I choosing a home birth this time? Well, after much reflection and research over the last three years, I’ve narrowed it down to 4 main reasons:
COMFORT
If you’ve ever had a hospital birth, then you know that being tied up to a monitor and confined to a seriously stiff hospital bed is as far from comfortable as it gets. Many hospitals also do not allow water births, although some will allow you to labor in the tub. I’m planning on delivering in our birthing tub, although I know that when it comes down to it I may choose an entirely different position/scenario. Either way, since I’m not considered a high-risk pregnancy, I’m so looking forward to creating an ambient space to bring my baby hearthside before climbing into my own bed immediately post-delivery!
LESS MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS
One thing I’ve really appreciated about home midwifery care is how much more patient-led and centered the care is. My midwife’s approach, who is medically trained and licensed, is to explain the circumstances of a given situation, then present various informed options. Unless there is an emergency, which is where my midwife would step in, I am ultimately in charge of and have complete power over my decisions without the need to explain or defend myself. Declining cervical checks? Excess ultrasounds? Vaccines right after birth? No problem. And less interventions, unless medically necessitated, leave the power of the birthing process to the female body.
UNMEDICATED DELIVERY
Let me preface this by saying that I had an epidural with both of my older kids, and I have no regrets. They were actually great experiences – aside from the fact that the first time, it only took on one side. But I had no lasting side effects, my babies were not jaundiced, and I was still overwhelmed by pure love and emotions when they were laid immediately on my chest. But truthfully, removing the option of an epidural as backup is part of what I need to be able to move forward with an unmedicated delivery. I’m not doing this because I think it’s any “better” than choosing an epidural, but because I want to prove to myself that I can do what millions of other women have done without medications for centuries.
A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
In the past, I’ve looked at birth as purely a physiological event.. a necessarily “evil” even, if you will. Because after all, haven’t many of us been conditioned to view birth as a horribly painful experience? And yet over the course of the last few years, the Lord has shown me the beauty that arises from amidst the uncomfortable, and yes, the often painful processes of life. And what better example of this than the process of bringing forth life? This time I’m really looking forward to drawing strength from the Lord during childbirth rather than trying to bandage it myself, knowing how much I’ll appreciate the sweet after tasting the bitter.
Would you ever consider a home birth? Why or why not?
With love & grace,
Natalie
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