Home Births often get a bad reputation with all the negative and sometimes false information surrounding them. Isn’t it dangerous? What if something goes wrong and you don’t make it to the hospital in time? Wouldn’t you rather have a doctor deliver your baby? You know birth is painful, right?…
Rather than add another article listing the medical pros and cons of a home birth, I figured I would go about this differently. I also discuss My Negative Perspective on Home Births if you are curious for that point of view. Hopefully, My Positive Perspective on Home Births will be a breath of fresh air for women considering options for their birthing experience.
You Can Labor Comfortably During a Home Birth
When labor starts it is exciting AND nerve wrecking. Laboring in your own home helps calm your nerves, due to the familiar environment. You are also in control of your surroundings. You will be more relaxed, or at least as much as you can be while in labor. Rather than anxious about making it to the hospital in a timely manner. Or worrying about how uncomfortable traveling during labor could potentially be. Labor is already uncomfortable, and being confined to a vehicle during that process cannot help. Especially if labor is progressing quickly.
Choosing a home birth allows you to labor in a way that is most comfortable for you. At home you can go about your typical day and stop to rest when contractions hit. Maybe you prefer to go on a walk to progress labor. Bounce on your birthing ball to help make contractions more bearable. Enjoy a snack or meal to keep your energy up. Light a candle, play some soothing music, relax in bed and maybe take a nap if you can. Or catch up on some television to help distract you and make the time pass quickly.
The Midwife Cleans Up After the Birth
Another of My Positive Perspective on Home Births is the Midwife cleans up after the birth for you! Whether at a hospital or at home, births are messy! While at the hospital you have nurses who help clean you, the baby, and the room up after a birth. A Midwife takes care of all that, and more, after a home birth. Sometimes the Midwife will have a Midwife in Training to assist her. Or perhaps if your husband is like mine, he will offer to help clean up in any way he can.
Here are just a few ways my Midwife has cleaned up after a birth. She has changed the bedding. Washed sheets and towels. Used a warm clean cloth to wipe down the baby after birth. Helped me get cleaned up and change clothes after birth. Cleaned up the bedroom and taken out the trash. Cleaned blood clots from the shower. Mopped the floors after my water broke. She even tried to catch a mouse that decided to make an appearance after one of my sons was born. You can read about that in my Successful Home Birth with Baby #4 story.
Siblings Get to Meet the Baby Right Away
An exciting and positive perspective of a home birth is the older siblings getting to meet baby minutes after being born. With each of my home births, Big Sister or Brother(s) was able to meet their new sibling soon after. I always have my Midwife clean and care for the baby first so I can rest for a few minutes and eat something to get my energy up. My husband then takes the baby to go meet the older kids for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Midwife will help me get freshened up, as well as getting the room cleaned. Once the room is back in order and I am cleaned up and comfortable then Sam will bring everyone into our room so we can all hang out together with the new baby. It is the sweetest thing when your older kids meet their new baby sibling who is just minutes old.
You Have the Comforts of Home Immediately After Delivery
Enjoying the comforts of home immediately after baby’s arrival is wonderful. After you have given birth, the baby, you, and the room have all been cleaned up, then you get to relax in your own comfortable bed! Your bathroom with all your necessities for postpartum care is just a few feet away. A snack basket with tasty treats is beside your bed. Any pain medications and a beverage of your choice is on your bedside table.
After the Midwife is gone, you can sit and rest in peace, sometimes quiet too if your older kids allow, and enjoy sweet baby cuddles. This is honestly my absolute favorite part of the home birth! Once all the preparing, waiting, and hard work is behind you, you can rest and enjoy bonding with your new baby. If you are wondering what our Kids are doing during the birth I talk about that in How to Entertain Siblings During a Home Birth.
Rest Is Actually Restful Following a Home Birth
When you have a home birth the first 24 hours after birth is actually very restful. This is a huge positive perspective for home births! The Midwife will leave once everything is in order and she is satisfied with how well you are recovering. She will not return until the next day or even 48 hours later depending on how she handles postpartum care.
Unless you choose to tell family and friends right away of your baby’s arrival, no one will know. You will be able to relax and rest without worrying if others will be coming to visit. Personally, I have told people right away the baby was born, thus resulting in numerous congratulatory texts and phone calls. I have also withheld the information for a few hours to a few days so I could enjoy that special time with my husband and children. Waiting to share the exciting news was truly a better fit for us.
Looking for More Information on Home Births?
Then check out the Pregnancy and Home Birth page on the Blog. Happy Reading!
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