ON MAKING THE DECISION TO HAVE A HOMEBIRTH

There are many reasons women choose to give birth at home. The following sections provide information regarding many issues and considerations involved in choosing homebirth.  This information is by no means exhaustive and will continue to be expanded as needed as more research is identified.

The paramount reason women and their families choose homebirth is that they want to fully participate in their birth and feel that they have control of the birthing process while having the supportive presence of those closest to them in the privacy and peacefulness of their own home.

Many times women and their families who have chosen to give birth at home find themselves defending their decision to friends, family members and others who have different beliefs about birth. Many women choose homebirth instinctively. However, while contemplating the ideal setting for birth, families must also consider whether or not they can feel safe giving birth at home.

Women and their families can gain comfort from the following research on the safety of homebirth:

• High quality controlled trials and descriptive studies have shown strong evidence that planned homebirths in the care of a qualified health care provider achieve similar perinatal outcomes to planned hospital births with no increase in maternal or neonatal morbidity/mortality.  There are certain studies that have shown that perinatal outcomes are even IMPROVED with a planned homebirth!
• Planned homebirths with qualified providers have also been found to result in a large reduction in the use of medical interventions. These include C-section, use of forceps and vacuum, labor induction and augmentation, spinal-epidural anaesthesia and unnecessary separation of mother and baby during postpartum period. A decrease in unnecessary C-sections may in turn decrease risk of newborn complications such as respiratory distress, prolonged hospitalization and transfer into a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).