subject: Why Have A Baby At Home [print this page] Having a baby requires many choicesHaving a baby requires many choices. Parents must choose whether or not to find out a baby's gender ahead of time, whether to go to birth classes, and where to have their baby. While having a baby in a hospital setting is one of the more popular options, there are many reasons that parents may choose to have a baby at home.
History of Home Birth
In the United States, in 1938 fifty percent of all births were home births. Prior to that time, the majority of women gave birth in their homes. Less than 20 years later, in 1955, fewer than one percent of births in the U.S. occurred in homes. There was somewhat of a revival in using midwifery, or choosing to have babies at home, in the 1970s, but the practice has continued to be far less common than giving birth in hospitals.
Reasons Home Birth is Chosen
Women who favor giving birth at home often cite comfort as a big factor. Women may feel more comfortable in a home environment, which has a more natural feel compared to hospitals. Women who prefer home births also mention the personal aspect of having a midwife or birth coach to help them through labor, rather than a doctor. Many women who give birth at home meet regularly with their midwife or birth coach and it creates a more personal relationship than women who go to a large hospital and may be assigned a random doctor to help deliver the baby. The cost of home births are also generally much lower. The option of home births allow a women to choose water birth, which many find more comfortable.
Safety of Home Births
Studies show that the safety of home births is very similar to births that occur in the hospital. The only increased risk that home births may bring is if the mother gives birth unattended, and has not received any prenatal care, then there is a higher chance of maternal death. Most women who give birth at home do not fall into this risk factor group, because they have a midwife, birth coach, or family member assist with the birth, and they also usually receive plenty of prenatal care. In terms of infant safety, there are nearly identical rates for infant mortality in hospital births and home births. For women who are low-risk, with no special medical conditions, giving birth at home is just as safe as giving birth in a hospital.
A variety of factors go into a woman's choice of where to give birth. Women, and couples, that want a natural environment that is comfortable and convenient may find giving birth at home is the best option.
