35 Reasons to Give Birth at Home (in no particular order):
1. Home birth is safer - Your house is a lot less likely to be a source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and it’s not full of sick people.
2. Your chances of getting a C-section are reduced with a home birth. At 4% our rates are a fraction of the national 31% average.
3. It’s cheaper - A midwife’s fee is much less costly than a hospital stay. Our total fee for all your care for 10 months is $3300 again a fraction of the cost of birthing in the hospital. Dont have insurance? We discount our fee another $600!
4. You don’t have to go anywhere. What could be better than your own shower or toilet if you need them?
5. The food is way better at home. Organic food? Vegan? No problem.
6. You don’t have to have strangers at your birth (unless you want to).
7. Your home is always more comfortable than any hospital room.
8. Everything you need is already there.
9. You can be as green as you want. Hospitals aren’t known for natural soaps, cleaners, or recycled-content anything.
10. You control the environment at home. If you want to dim all the lights or open a window, you just do it.
11. Birth is a sacred experience. What better setting could there be than your own nest?
12. It’s so much quieter at home. There are no cabinets full of blinky lights, fans, and humming devices. Well, maybe some of you have that… But probably not in your bedroom. And you can power them down if you want.
13. Home birth is just more fun!
14. Your older kids can be a part of the birth or comfortable in their surroundings while waiting for the birth.
15. Your pets can attend. Seriously. Pets are family, too.
16. Giving birth at home is an exceptionally empowering experience. We promise you will remember it forever!
17. No silly hospital gown is necessary at home. Wear whatever you want, or wear nothing.
18. You don’t need an ID bracelet for the mother or the baby when you birth at home.
19. You can choose the room for your birth, or change rooms in the middle. Not an option at the hospital.
20. Giving birth outside is an option with a home birth. One of the first home births we attended was in the families back yard, in a big galvinized tub, on a warm sunny day.
21. No paperwork is necessary at your home birth, well for you anyway - your midwife and her assistants will be very busy recording your birth on many pieces of paper.
22. You can cut the umbilical cord when you are good and ready. The speed at which the hospital personel want to snip our newborn’s lifeline is unbelievable.
23. No gadgetry on the mother: A home birth midwife doesn’t require you to wear a monitor or get an IV started “just in case”.
24. You don’t have to sign out when you leave your house.
25. Your family doesn’t have to negotiate a giant parking lot and endless hallways to visit you.
26. A heating pad does not cost $50 to use.
27. You can have as much sage, incense, candles, whatever, as you like.
28. There is no pressure to circumcise, vaccinate, or apply for a Social Security number for your baby right after a home birth.
29. You don’t end up with a “gift bag” (marketing samples) from big corporate America, full of disposable diapers, formula, baby wipes, shampoo, soaps, and brand propaganda.
30. Your baby’s placenta does not become a biohazard. It is yours just like your baby and you can do with it what you like. Many choose to bury it under a special tree, others choose to encapsulate it for bio-identical hormone replacement in menopause.
31. The dad has a bed at home. Sleeping on a foldout cot next to the hospital bed sucks.
32. Nobody comes in, wakes you up, and checks your vitals every half hour at home.
33. Having a home birth is different. Different is cool.
34. You are an individual, your wishes will be heard, respected, and honored.
35. The hospital is open 24 hours, so if you need it, it will be there.
1. Home birth is safer - Your house is a lot less likely to be a source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and it’s not full of sick people.
2. Your chances of getting a C-section are reduced with a home birth. At 4% our rates are a fraction of the national 31% average.
3. It’s cheaper - A midwife’s fee is much less costly than a hospital stay. Our total fee for all your care for 10 months is $3300 again a fraction of the cost of birthing in the hospital. Dont have insurance? We discount our fee another $600!
4. You don’t have to go anywhere. What could be better than your own shower or toilet if you need them?
5. The food is way better at home. Organic food? Vegan? No problem.
6. You don’t have to have strangers at your birth (unless you want to).
7. Your home is always more comfortable than any hospital room.
8. Everything you need is already there.
9. You can be as green as you want. Hospitals aren’t known for natural soaps, cleaners, or recycled-content anything.
10. You control the environment at home. If you want to dim all the lights or open a window, you just do it.
11. Birth is a sacred experience. What better setting could there be than your own nest?
12. It’s so much quieter at home. There are no cabinets full of blinky lights, fans, and humming devices. Well, maybe some of you have that… But probably not in your bedroom. And you can power them down if you want.
13. Home birth is just more fun!
14. Your older kids can be a part of the birth or comfortable in their surroundings while waiting for the birth.
15. Your pets can attend. Seriously. Pets are family, too.
16. Giving birth at home is an exceptionally empowering experience. We promise you will remember it forever!
17. No silly hospital gown is necessary at home. Wear whatever you want, or wear nothing.
18. You don’t need an ID bracelet for the mother or the baby when you birth at home.
19. You can choose the room for your birth, or change rooms in the middle. Not an option at the hospital.
20. Giving birth outside is an option with a home birth. One of the first home births we attended was in the families back yard, in a big galvinized tub, on a warm sunny day.
21. No paperwork is necessary at your home birth, well for you anyway - your midwife and her assistants will be very busy recording your birth on many pieces of paper.
22. You can cut the umbilical cord when you are good and ready. The speed at which the hospital personel want to snip our newborn’s lifeline is unbelievable.
23. No gadgetry on the mother: A home birth midwife doesn’t require you to wear a monitor or get an IV started “just in case”.
24. You don’t have to sign out when you leave your house.
25. Your family doesn’t have to negotiate a giant parking lot and endless hallways to visit you.
26. A heating pad does not cost $50 to use.
27. You can have as much sage, incense, candles, whatever, as you like.
28. There is no pressure to circumcise, vaccinate, or apply for a Social Security number for your baby right after a home birth.
29. You don’t end up with a “gift bag” (marketing samples) from big corporate America, full of disposable diapers, formula, baby wipes, shampoo, soaps, and brand propaganda.
30. Your baby’s placenta does not become a biohazard. It is yours just like your baby and you can do with it what you like. Many choose to bury it under a special tree, others choose to encapsulate it for bio-identical hormone replacement in menopause.
31. The dad has a bed at home. Sleeping on a foldout cot next to the hospital bed sucks.
32. Nobody comes in, wakes you up, and checks your vitals every half hour at home.
33. Having a home birth is different. Different is cool.
34. You are an individual, your wishes will be heard, respected, and honored.
35. The hospital is open 24 hours, so if you need it, it will be there.
