Hoping for a Home Birth? Our Readers Write!

Name: Tanya • Due Date: 06/01/2008

My partner and I are planning an unassisted birth at home. I've had 4 previous deliveries that were uncomplicated and I swore after the last one that I would never subject myself or my baby to the hospital environment again. Giving birth is natural, not a medical emergency. Almost all of the complications that occur are due to medical interventions to be begin with.

Name: Tina • Due Date: 12/25/2006

Although my little one was due December 25, our little eager Noa decided to come three months early and was born on September 18 instead despite any medications to stop labor. Though my husband and I planned on her birth being in a hospital, she decided she wanted mommy and daddy to be the only ones there. 4:46 in the morning she made a rush into this world. I was drying myself from a shower when I felt her bearing down and told my husband to call 911. While he was giving them our address my water broke and within seconds (literally) she came sliding out on the bathroom floor. The ambulance arrived four minutes after the call but daddy was the first to touch his daughter as he picked her up to put her on mommy's stomach. She was pink, breathing, whimper a cry and opened her eyes momentarily looking up at me. She's a miracle and as scarry as it seemed at the moment .... it was ever so beautiful at the same time.

Name: Demi • Due Date: 07/13/2006

Both my son and my daughter were born at home, with the loving help of an experienced midwife. It was incredibly intimate for my husband and I -- I labored outside on the deck in his arms with this last birth, and the midwife just came out occassionally to check the heartrate and all. Once I got to the pushing phase we all went inside and I gave birth to my daughter on our bed, right where she was conceived, and right where my son was born. It was such an incredible and wonder-ful experience. The midwives were amazing. Afterwards, there was nothing to do, nowhere to go, but bliss out on our baby and fall even deeper in love with our family. You can just google "homebirth" and maybe your state and see what comes up -- but there is likely a homebirth midwife in your area. Our insurance reimbursed us for a little more than half of the cost. Find a midwife you like, and she'll help you with the rest! Many blessings for births as wonderful as ours!

Name: Gabriela • Due Date: 12/11/2006

I was scared at first but after doing the research I am pretty confident that me and my husband will be able to handle it. At first we where going to have a midwife then I heard all the horror stories that they pretty much take over and dont allow the husband to assist. And I wanted it to be an intimate moment between me and me husband so we decided to have an unassisted home birth so many couples are doing it right know and ssay that its brought there marriage even closer than it has been. Even thou we do have to read ALOT and make sure we know what to do when to do it. I am happy this is our first time we have 3 boys first c-section then 2 vaginal and had such a bad expierence with doctors that I said I would never go back to a doc or hosp. They presured me to tie my tubes or to be on some kind of contraseptive and they continue to push a c-section on me when my wishes where to have a natural birth it was a fight but I was able to have my last two naturally. And know I feel soooooooo good to know I dont have to go through all that.

Name: Susan • Due Date: 12/03/2006

I would never have a baby at home. There can be too many complications. Babies should be born in the hospital just in case there is an emergency. Susan, Registered Nurse

Name: Karina • Due Date: 12/19/2006

I would love to birth at home. I just don't know how to go about setting it all up. My fiance is a paramedic/firefighter and has experience delivering babies (so no matter if we go to a hospital or home he'll be delivering, with the aid of dr or midwife). Would my insurance cover a homebirth? I don't know where to start!