• You may face considerable disapproval from family, friends, and medical professionals. This can be very unpleasant and difficult during pregnancy and may actually lead to problems with care should a woman need to move into the hospital during labor or for problems after the birth.

• You take on greater responsibility for making decisions and preparing for the birth. Some couples find this liberating, while others find it a burden.

• The proximity of neighbors or lack of privacy within your home may inhibit you. This, in turn, can inhibit the labor.

How might having a homebirth affect your birth experience and postpartum recovery?

Emerging from the birth feeling capable and confident puts you in the ideal position to meet the challenges of new motherhood. A homebirth gives you your best chance to do this because:

• You are on your own “turf” where you make the rules.
• You have the opportunity to discover that you can cope with labor using your own resources and strengths.
• You have a caregiver who nurtures, encourages and supports you and who respects your right to participate fully in any decisions made about your care.
• You are least likely to be subjected to procedures such as episiotomy or cesarean section that cause pain and debility.
• Even the need to move into the hospital, however disappointing, can be empowering. You will have the ultimate say-so, and it will be because you agree that appropriate intervention is now right and necessary.

References