Top 6 Benefits of Giving Birth at Home

Welcome Mom-to-be! If you have already decided that giving birth at home is your preferred choice, or are in the process of exploring birthing options, then you're going to find some useful information about the benefits of a natural homebirth here.

There are several words that Moms typically use to describe their homebirth experiences from magical, special and joyous, to precious, emotional and intimate. I would also use these words to describe my natural homebirth experience, as well as others that have not been invented yet! This is because there are aspects of a homebirth are simply beyond words - its an experience than will touch you on a very deep emotional, psychological and spiritual level.

While it goes without saying that every Moms' experience of labor and giving birth will be different, I've included some of my own experiences of giving birth in hospital in comparison to giving birth at home. This is to highlight some of the differences that I found between the two birthing options and why I would choose a homebirth over a hospital birth every single time.

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You may share some of my observations about hospital birth vs homebirth, or you may have a completely different viewpoint; which is completely fine. This is not about judging anyone's birthing choices or saying there is one right way and one wrong way to give birth. The benefits of homebirth that I describe are based on some homebirth research facts plus my own subjective (and totally biased!) experiences.

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There are many advantages and benefits of giving birth at home for low risk pregnancies. There is something inherently special and liberating about giving birth in your own surroundings that is quite hard to get across to someone who has never experienced the joy of it themselves.

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Homebirth is Intimate

If you've planned your homebirth with the assistance of a midwife or doula you will know each other well and so you will not be confronted with having to deal with strangers at a time when you are at your most vulnerable. Homebirth is characterized by a truly intimate feel when you are in your own surroundings with people you know well.

In contrast, during my first labor and delivery, which took place in a hospital, I can remember the awful experience of having to have stitches afterwards, performed by someone I'd never met before and who hardly spoke a word of English. Needless to say, it was incredibly stressful having a complete stranger staring at my very sore nether regions and paying very little attention when I said it was hurting! There are also no hospital shift changes when giving birth at home, so you won't have different midwives, paediatricians and medical personnel to contend with, which can be extremely unsettling in itself.

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Homebirth is Empowering

When giving birth at home you have total control over your birthing experience; where and how you would like to give birth; what pain relief you want to use and you can make choices about who is present at the birth. With your partner, Mom or other family members or friends present, sometimes along with a midwife or doula, homebirth is empowering in a way that a hospital birthing experience is not.

I spent the majority of my homebirth labor sitting in the garden getting used to using the TENS machine. It was a glorious, sunny and warm Spring day. The bluebells and daffodils were all flowering. The cherry trees were in full blossom. It was simply beautiful! I cannot imagine a more peaceful, relaxing and liberating venue to experience labor.

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Homebirth is Non-Clinical

There's something about being in a clinical, hospital environment, that is inherently anxiety producing. The smells, the sounds, the rushing about of medical personnel, the bright lights, the stacks of intimidating medical equipment, all add together to create an atmosphere of a medical emergency! But childbirth is not a medical emergency; labor and delivery are not illnesses!

The fact that you are simply going through a very natural and normal experience can often be lost in a medical environment which often creates high levels of anxiety.

One of the things I had to endure in my hospital birthing experience was having to listen to another Mom screaming in another room down the corridor. This was my first baby; my first labor and birth, so hearing that was terrifying and definitely contributed to high stress levels!

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One of the biggest advantages of homebirth is that, in general, giving birth at home is far less stressful than being in a clinical environment, which results in a less painful labor and delivery and also fewer complications.

"One study found that women experience pain inherent in birth differently, and less negatively, in a home setting."

Having total freedom of movement, being able to make a cup of tea if you want, playing your favorite music and being able to sleep in your own bed afterwards, are all additional benefits of a natural homebirth that may seem small, but are incredibly important aspects to the whole experience. Being in familiar surroundings really reduces the potential stress of labor and child birth.

“Hormones released when you are anxious actually suppress the birth, so you end up prolonging the process."

There is no getting around the fact that labor and child birth are painful, but when we are less tense we experience less pain. For my own homebirth I chose to use a TENS machine for pain relief and I'd definitely recommend it as a natural option for managing the pain of labor.

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There is a misconception among the general populous that the safest place to have a baby is in hospital, but in reality, for those women who have had a normal pregnancy, homebirth is equally as safe as a hospital birth.

"low risk women with a planned home birth are less likely to experience referral to secondary care and subsequent obstetric interventions than those with a planned hospital birth."

With a homebirth there tend to be far fewer interventions, less need for pain relief, and a much higher likelihood of a normal vaginal birth than when compared to a hospital birth. When giving birth at home the process of labor and birth are allowed to take their natural course and there is no unnecessary interfering or fiddling. During my own homebirth I only had two internal examinations (compared to at least 10 when in hospital!). One when the midwife first arrived to check how dilated I was and one after the event to ensure that my uterus had contracted.

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Homebirth is Good for Your Mental Health

If you've suffered with post natal depression before, or if you are at a higher risk of PND because you've experienced mental health issues such as depression before, then giving birth at home can really help reduce the likelihood of post natal depression.

"Studies have shown women who give birth at home are less likely to suffer from post-natal depression."

Many Mothers and specialist homebirth midwives attest to the fact that a homebirth is the best birthing option for mother and baby, especially when the mother has experienced mental health difficulties. It's not entirely clear why this should be, but it could be related to a stronger bonding experience when a baby is born in the stress free enviroment of home.

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Natural birth really is the way to go in my opinion. For more information on natural childbirth and homebirth, check out my selection of the best books on the topic. Learn how to minimize labor pain naturally using hypnobirthing and breathing techniques or read other Mothers inspiring birthing stories to help you make the birthing decision that's right for you.

I hope I've managed to communicate to you the many benefits of giving birth at home and why a natural homebirth is often the far superior childbirth option for many women.

If you have any questions or queries about homebirth please feel free to leave a comment and I'll get right back to you.

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Want to Know How to Deliver a Baby at Home in an Emergency?

• How to Deliver a Baby at Home

Want to read some more?

• Perfect Birth Music
• Prenatal Music
• Maternity Support Belts

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Whichever birthing experience you ultimately choose, I wish you, your family and your new baby well!