Why wouldn’t you choose home birth?

I’m a Doula, HypnoBirthing practitioner, and home birthing mama. So many people I work with tell me they want to give birth with as little intervention as possible, but choose to give birth in a hospital.

The most common reason I hear why people do not choose home birth is “what if something goes wrong?”

It makes sense why so many people have that perspective because there is a mainstream view that birth is dangerous. But rarely do people actually investigate what the risks are.

There are risks with birth in any setting. But they differ.

At home, your birthing hormones can function normally, oxytocin causing consistent contractions and endorphins taking the edge off and bringing you into a meditative state. Nobody touches you without your permission. You can move into any position you like. Be in the bath. All of this makes birth safer. And most transfers from home to hospital are not emergencies.

Hospitals are designed to intervene. To an extent, you have to follow their policies. And many of their policies are more for their legal protection rather than your safety. Mandatory vaginal exams. Bright lights. Machines beeping around you. Strangers coming in and out. Maybe you feel safer being near an operating room in case there is an emergency. But many emergencies are sadly caused by interfering with the birth process.

There’s no right or wrong way to give birth. Your experience matters, not only having a healthy baby. I invite you to take the time to understand what your options are, figure out what you really want, and have conversations with your care provider about your wishes.

Remember, your body your choice. Always.