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7 months ago, I had my third baby at home! The experience was incredible and empowering. If you want to read about our home birth go check it out in my other article: My Home Birth Experience. In this post, I want to lay out what I thought were the pros and cons of a home birth.
There are many things to consider when deciding whether you want to give birth in a hospital, a birthing center, or at home! Many people are worried that home births are not safe, however, if you have a low-risk pregnancy and are healthy, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to have a safe home birth.
In fact, there are some arguments that hospital births are contributing to birth complications with too much intervening, as well as not allowing mothers to birth how they are comfortable (not being on my back this time, made a HUGE difference)
Pros and Cons of a Home Birth
Pros of a Home Birth
Pro #1 Full-Control/Freedom
When giving a home birth, you have control over your experience. Do you want friends and family there? Do you want to be in a tub? In your own bed? Want some relaxing music? Lights off? It’s all up to you.
A good midwife will encourage you to do what makes you feel relaxed and comfortable for your delivery.
Some things that were important to me when delivering that would have been difficult, uncomfortable, or even not allowed in a hospital are:
- Freedom to walk around, distract myself, or change scenery.
In my hospital births, I was allowed to walk around, but I had to say, “I want to walk around.” And the nurses would say, “OK, let me get you ready…” and all the wires were wrapped around me, the IV thing was following me… It was… not super comfortable.
Not to mention, it was awkward walking through the halls for me. You passed strangers and nurses and passed other people’s rooms. I didn’t end up walking much because it just was weird.
At home, I would lay in my bed or decide I wanted to walk around, do some squats in my doorway, check on my kids… No wires or tubes, nothing to drag along. - Having my kids involved.
When I had baby #2 in the hospital, Theron was there for some of the labor. He would come in and check on me, but for the most part he was in the waiting room with family. At home, I wanted them to be able to be a part of the process more. Theron was right beside me stroking my hair and encouraging me while I was in labor (Harper wasn’t that into it lol). They missed the birth, but came in right away to see their new sister! - Freedom to eat if I needed to.
My midwife said, if you are hungry, EAT! You need strength. I think this was a big part of why the pushing part of delivery went so much faster this time. I had the strength to do it! I was able to snack and drink as much water as I needed.
In my hospital births they wouldn’t let me eat and I was so hungry from laboring all night. - Freedom to birth in whatever position felt right.
Even doctors agree that squatting or being on your hands and knees is the best birthing position, yet… They still have you lay on your back. My first delivery I was having back labor and the nurse suggested I turn around and put my hands on the back of the bed for a better position for pain management, but when it came to pushing they had me turn around…
Another reason I think my pushing went SOOOO fast. I was able to really get in a good position and just get the baby out! This time, I was on my hands and knees and I pushed for 3 minutes. Huge difference.
Pro #2 Natural
Of course, there is nothing wrong with having a medicated birth. If you want to be medicated that is YOUR CHOICE! Do not let someone pressure you to be medicated if it’s not what you want, but also know that there is nothing wrong with having a medicated birth.
However, a natural birth is healthy for baby and mom. There is also evidence that it can lead to a quicker delivery and recovery. I feel like I am evidence of that: after birth I am up and about right away!
Pro #3 Comfortable for Mom and visitors
Waiting rooms are not great. As much as a hospital tries to make it comfortable for family members, it’s just not.
Vending machines, looking for bathrooms… It’s just not as comfortable as hanging out at someone’s house.
One idea that I really liked was that if I had a long labor, people could wait in a comfortable environment. They could also come and go freely.
I had snacks out and ready, drinks in the fridge, I even had the instant pot ready to make dinner for everyone. They could just start it up according to the instructions.
Of course, my labor was over and done with before anyone even got there! My mom was knocking on the door as the baby came out. So… None of this really mattered.
Pro #4 Cost
Our insurance after I left teaching is just… not great. This is actually the big reason that I finally took the leap to look into home birth more. I was always too nervous to look into it before.
After all was said and done, we spent LESS out of pocket without using insurance than we had for hospital births WITH insurance! I was shocked.
Cons of a Home Birth
Con #1 The pressure to be super “crunchy” in all aspects of your parenting and pregnancy
My midwife was great and I had a good experience, but there was a lot of “Oh no, you don’t want to use TUMS for heartburn…” or “Of course, you won’t want the TV on when you are in labor.” And I’m just not all that organic, if I’m being real honest.
I love natural birth, and I believe that it is best. BUT I like fast food and drink Dr. Pepper, and I’m not ashamed of it. I eat gluten, sugar, AND preservatives!
Con #2 Pressure to Breastfeed
I was already planning to breastfeed, but when I read in my agreement that my midwife would not serve a mother who was not planning on at least trying to breastfeed for the first 2 weeks, it kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
There are a lot of reasons why a mother might decide to formula feed. I believe that it is good for women to try it, and that most women are told too soon that they should give up… BUT… ultimately it’s up to the mother. EVEN if that means going straight to formula. Some women know that it just will not work with their lifestyle and don’t want to struggle with having to transition their baby from being breastfed to formula fed later on.
Some women need the father to feed the baby. And unfortunately, a LOT of women have to go back to work right away and pumping is just too much to think about on top of juggling a newborn while going straight back to work WHILE healing, dealing with postpartum hormones… all of it. Formula can be a godsend for those women.
If you know that you want to formula feed and you are considering homebirth, be aware that many midwives will pressure you in this area. Make sure you find a provider who supports your decisions.
Con #3 What If Something Goes Wrong?
Ok. Here’s the thing about this one, if you have a low-risk pregnancy, you should not be too worried… but we all have that worry.
Midwives are very well versed in what to do if there is an emergency that needs to be handled at the hospital and will go over the protocol with you before delivery.
But I put this as a con, because IF something were to go wrong, you would have to go to the hospital and it would be a huge change of plans (we all know plans change when it comes to birth, but the idea that it can change THIS drastically can be scary).
Making a decision-Where Should I Give Birth?
When preparing for my homebirth, I read the book, The Essential Homebirth Guide, by Jane E. Drichta, CPM and Jodilyn Owen, CPM.
This book was extremely helpful in understanding the ins and outs of home birth.
It is important to do what makes YOU comfortable. Do research, watch birth videos, talk to other moms. Get as much information about the birthing experience so that you can to decide.
