The British Medical Journal, no. 7068, vol. 31 - BMJ issue that highlights homebirth

Homebirth - Safety and Benefits

Corroborating Citations on the Safety of Homebirth - by Vickie Hall, CPM

Safety of Homebirth Summaries of some of the studies that have been done.

Why do women choose a homebirth?

• Freedom - freedom to move, freedom to eat/drink, freedom to birth how you want. Freedom from interventions, freedom from restrictions...you do not have to struggle with 'policies'.
• Comfort - most people will agree, "There's no place like home". To bathe in your own bathtub, lay in your own bed, eat in your own kitchen.
• Security - to know that you are the boss. The rules that are set are your own rules. Nobody will tell you who you can and can not have at your birth, or make you do something you do not want to do.
• Care - having a homebirth means having continuous care from your midwife. You can be surrounded by family and friends if you desire, or you can easily plan to have only your partner and your midwife with you.
• Convenience - Not having to travel in labor to another birth place, not having to wake up older siblings because you're in labor, not being away from the family because of a hospital stay...having care providers come to you instead of you going to them.
• Safety - see the links above about the safety of homebirths.

Have you decided that you want to give birth at home and are looking for a midwife in your area? You can find a listing of AAM Midwives here.