Ask the Experts
Home Births
Q: Is having a baby at home safe? I'm seven months pregnant, and when I told my obstetrician I was considering this option, he laughed at me and said I'd be endangering my baby and myself.
A: There are a few issues I'd like to address here. First off, any doctor who laughs at you should be fired. Period. Now for the next issue: Yes, home birth can be a safe experience as long as you meet certain criteria: You must be in good health and carrying only one baby, with that baby in the vertex (head-down) position; you must have had no previous uterine surgery, such as a Cesarean section; and you must be ready to be an active partner in your labor experience.
That said, home birth definitely is not for everyone, so please find a doctor or midwife with whom you can have an intelligent discussion of your options. My personal opinion is that for a select group of families, home birth can even be safer than a hospital delivery. I also believe that if more hospitals would meet their patients' needs with greater kindness and less intervention, fewer people would consider home birth.
That said, home birth definitely is not for everyone, so please find a doctor or midwife with whom you can have an intelligent discussion of your options. My personal opinion is that for a select group of families, home birth can even be safer than a hospital delivery. I also believe that if more hospitals would meet their patients' needs with greater kindness and less intervention, fewer people would consider home birth.
