Is A Home Childbirth Right For You?

Pregnancy is the time to start asking yourself “the big questions”. A time to look deep within yourself and get in touch with your motherly intuition, so you can make the right decisions for you and your baby.

Your choice of birthing location is an important decision which will affect you, your baby and the quality of your birthing experience overall.

I encourage you to investigate all the options available to you including hospital birth, birthing centers and giving birth at home.

In this article I will talk about the benefits and considerations of home childbirth, because that is what I am passionate about.

I’m a big advocate of home childbirth because that is how my mother gave birth to me, and how I gave birth to my daughter.

Birth Is Your Baby’s First Taste of Life

It is important to remember when choosing a birthing location that, as mothers we are not the only person involved in the birth.

Your baby will experience the drama of childbirth even more strongly than you do, which is why it is so important to create a peaceful environment for her to make her journey into this world.

When your baby is born she forms her first impressions of a brand new world. The sights and sounds and feelings are all magnified because she is so small and she experiences everything very vividly.

Before choosing where to give birth to your child, please consider this question…

What If YOU Could Choose Where You Would Be Born?

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine that instead of being a Momma and worrying about all the things that Mommas worry about, that you are your baby getting ready to be born…

When the time comes for you to enter the new world, which would you prefer…

Would you want to be squeezed out into a cold, sterile room, filled with bright lights, loud voices, frenzied movement, beeping machines and masked strangers who poke and prod you before taking you away from your Momma and placing you, all alone, in a distant room beside a dozen other crying infants?

Or, would you rather be born gently, at your own pace, into a serene and peaceful loving environment with dim lights, warm air, soft music, gentle whispers and a Momma who holds you close and tells you everything is going to be OK,  then holds you in her arms and rocks  you to sleep?

Remember, your birthing space is yours to create. You can chose to surround your baby with love and greet your little traveler with patience, humility and silence.

Your baby will hold that memory in her subconscious for the rest of her life!

Giving Birth At Home And The Effects Of The Birthing Environment On Momma And Baby

When you enter your birthing time you enter an altered state where your senses are heightened and you become extremely in tune with smells, sounds, sights and emotions.

You also tune in to the energy around you. In this sensitive state you absorb the feelings created by the ambience of the space and the other people in the room.

If you sense negative energy this could disrupt your birth because it will take your attention away from doing your job, which is to remain calm and peaceful and allow your body to expand and open.

In a calm and peaceful room surrounded by good people positive feelings will flow around you and carry you through the birth!

Choosing The Place Where You Feel Most Comfortable

The most important thing when having a natural childbirth is the ability to stay calm and relax enough to allow your body to open up and birth your baby.

You should give birth in a place where you feel safe and comfortable baring your soul. A place where you can completely relax and let go of all worries and inhibitions and just “release and open yourself to the birthing energy”

You should feel safe, secure, loved, respected, important, powerful, peaceful and free from any distractions.

Giving birth is a very intimate and personal act. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable making love in a place, then you probably won’t feel comfortable giving birth there either.

Frequently Asked Questions About Giving Birth At Home

Q. Is it safe giving birth at home?

A. If you are a healthy woman who is not considered “high risk” you are a good candidate for a natural home childbirth.

The best way to keep yourself “low risk” is to take excellent care of yourself and your baby throughout your pregnancy and properly prepare yourself for birth.

Thousands of women each year give birth at home with the assistance of midwives, doulas and other natural childbirth professionals.

Consult your doctor or midwife to determine what risk factors you should consider when choosing your birthing location.

Q. Who should be present at my home childbirth?

A. The fewer people at the birth, the better…

Giving birth at home is not really a spectator sport. It is a very intimate and personal act. To give birth peacefully you must be able to connect with your inner self, sink deeply into peace and relaxation, release all inhibitions and flow harmoniously with the energy of the birth.

Only positive people allowed

You don’t want anyone present at your birth who causes you to feel uncomfortable and afraid to be yourself, or who feels uncomfortable themselves with what is happening.

Only allow people to attend your birth whose energy matches your own. People who lift you up just by being around them. People you know you can count on.

They must be able to practice patience, trust, respect and have confidence in you and your body’s ability to give birth, and be able to remain calm and silent.

Some women chose to have only the Dad and a midwife present at their birth. If you feel comfortable doing so, you may also wish to also invite your Mom, best friend or doula for emotional support.

Finding The Perfect Midwife or Doula

When choosing a midwife or doula to attend your birth it is best to find someone whom you share a connection with. Her birthing philosophies should align with yours and there should be an equal amount of trust and respect between you.

Discuss your birthing plan with your midwife and what role you would like them to fill. They are there to support you… to “Mother the Mother”… and to hold the birthing space sacred.

When choosing a midwife make sure she has all of the proper certifications, has a record of attending many successful births and can provide glowing references from her past clients.

Q. What if a complication occurs during home childbirth?

A. The primary focus of natural home childbirth is preventing complications from happening through education and preparation during pregnancy.

In the case that it becomes necessary to intervene your midwife should be well equipped to help you. Make sure beforehand that she carries all the medication and tools needed in case of an emergency.

You should also have on-hand the address, phone number and quickest route to the nearest hospital, so that you are always prepared in case a transfer becomes necessary.

It is important not to dwell on negative possibilities because it makes it hard to relax and give birth. If you have taken all the necessary precautions you can put those thoughts out of your mind, knowing that everything will be taken care of in case it becomes necessary.

Home Childbirth Tips – Creating Your Place of Comfort

When designing your birthing space you want to create an environment that you would feel comfortable making love in. Imagine the intimacy in detail.

The low lights, soft music, privacy…

Surround yourself in comfort.

What brings you peace and calm? Candles? Lavender? Aromatherapy? Do you have a favorite flower? Color? What music calms you? What’s your favorite scent?

If you are having a water birth what would you like to add to the water? Oils, herbs? Etc….

Make sure there is nothing that could potentially distract you. Cover all of the clocks and surround yourself in peace.

Your only focus should be on beautifully and peacefully flowing with your body and the energy of the birth to bring your baby into life.

Why Andy And I Chose To Have A Natural Home Childbirth

After touring hospitals and birthing centers I felt that the place I would best be able to relax and feel comfortable was my own home. At home I knew that my baby would be delivered into a loving environment because I could create that sort of environment.

When the time came I surrounded myself with all the things that made me peaceful and reminded me of how capable and powerful I was…

The room smelled of lavender and firelight danced off the walls. I immersed myself into a pool of warm water and rose petals kissed my skin. The gentle flicker of candles soothed me and the tapestry on the wall showed a proud woman which made me feel strong and powerful too.

The few people in attendance practiced silent patience and trusted me and my body. Their energy was calm and peaceful and I felt loved, supported and respected.

There were no distractions to prevent me from giving my baby a gentle and loving birth.

“My body knew exactly what to do, and I followed it’s lead”

The first thing I did was shed my clothes. I felt it easier to connect with my body without the barrier of clothes, and I felt no judgment because of that.

I birthed in any position that felt right. I walked around, squatted, sat on my birthing ball, took a bath and even meditated. I ate and drank when I felt like it which really helped to keep my energy up.

And when I felt like it was time to push that’s what I did. My baby came into life very naturally and gracefully. Andy gently and lovingly placed her in my arms and there she stayed…

“She was home.”

If you are seeking a truly natural childbirth experience for you and your baby, I encourage you to consider giving birth at home in a natural home childbirth.

April, Andy and Lileah's natural home childbirth

Related posts:

1. My Home Birth Story (Video)
2. Home Water Birth – Nature’s Epidural