I love attending home births. They are such a special experience and there really isn't any good way to compare them to hospital births. So much of the stress, worry, anxiety, fear and pain is lifted just by the location of the birth. All the bells and whistles are removed and you're left with a calm, peaceful birthing experience. Home births are really not for everyone. If you have medical reasons to give birth in a hospital, please do it! If having a home birth is something that you're feeling pressured into you may need to take a step back and reconsider. But, if you really want a natural, intervention free birth that welcomes the baby into your family with grace and gentleness...I recommend that you give very serious consideration to a home birth! Even if you aren't thinking that a home birth would be for you - meet a midwife and talk to her - they are so experienced and full of good ideas. You can have a good birth in the hospital, but it is far more challenging to achieve the same kind of peaceful calmness in a hospital setting. You must have the right doctor, nurses and hospital to make it work. I believe having a doula becomes essential in the hospital setting.
Here is a video of a recent home birth - it was a beautiful birth to attend and the mom had tried a hospital birth before - it was NOT the experience she had hoped for in any way. The home birth gave her back her confidence, her positive feelings about herself and her body, it really strengthened who she is and how she thinks of herself. The mother is extremely small, baby is quite large for her...see how she eases him out and listen to her as she experiences a major personal victory. You can see me in the first few seconds - she's leaning back on me as I talk her through the crowning and delivery part of the birth. (Video does contain graphic birth nudity). See this birth story on the Birth Dance Blog.
