Homebirth Talk: Why Women Aren't Choosing Homebirth
by: MarynLeister | Total views: 18 | Word Count: 779 | View PDF | Print View
Why aren't more women choosing to give birth at home?
In my little circle, homebirth is the logical choice for a mom-to-be. But outside of my circle, very few women choose to have a birth at home. Even highly educated, well informed women, who know their options, who choose to have a natural birth, choose to have that birth at a hospital. So what is keeping them from wanting what I consider the "optimum" birth experience?
Perhaps safety is the primary concern. But there are studies showing homebirth is just as safe, if not safer than hospital birth. And there is a ton of support available (in the form of homebirth stories and homebirth videos) to show what homebirth is really like. Many local communities have homebirth midwives who can answer questions and address concerns. So why aren't most women doing these things? Why do they just choose the default option, hospital birth?
So if there's enough supporting information to show that homebirth is in fact a viable option for giving birth, it seems that women are choosing a hospital birth based on emotion. The problem is, that this emotion is most likely fear. And fear, while a healthy emotion, is not what you want controlling your birth choices.
Birth needs to be respected, not controlled. I view birth as a very miraculous process. But it does not always happen as we envision or want it to happen. On the flipside of birth is death, and that is something that must be respected as well. Because I respect birth, I do not and would not try to control it or relinquish the responsibility of my body or my baby to anyone else, regardless of the situation.
I think that choosing hospital birth is relinquishing this responsibility, and the sad fact is I think many women consciously choose this path over homebirth because the respect for birth is not there.
In the end, many women do not really want to accept the responsibility that comes with birth.
The sad part is that you can't really get rid of this responsibility. What many women choose to do instead is transfer it. That's what often happens in a hospital birth. But still I ask, why would any women want to transfer the responsibility of her own health and her baby's health to anyone else?
It really comes down to informed consent.
It's not about knowing it all, or tuning out information or a scenario you don't want to hear. It is about being provided all of the options and information, and making your own decisions and your own choice. And here lies the crucial difference between homebirth and hospital birth and also the reason I think most women choose the latter.
Most women probably don't even know that informed consent exists. And ultimately, they don't want to have to do the work to make their own choices and live with them. Instead, they give the power to what "the doctor says" over what their body is telling them to do. There is no worse place for that than in birth.
To put a positive spin on this dire situation, I challenge you to ask yourself a few really hard questions during your pregnancy that only you know the answer to. For many women, the way to a homebirth comes after soul-searching and connecting with the innate ability we all have to give birth naturally and with minimal interference.
How do I view birth? What experiences have I had that have influenced this view?
Here's another one: Deep down, do I feel like I need "help" in having a baby?
Am I willing to truly accept the responsibility that comes with being pregnant, giving birth, being a parent? Am I willing to do that even when and especially when I cannot control every aspect of these things?
Do I feel like I have to be socially acceptable in my birthing choices (often choosing hospital birth)? How important is it to me to make a choice that everyone else agrees with?
Take some time to get the information that you need. Watch birth videos, home and hospital. Then give yourself time to think about what you're learning. Close your eyes and visualize what you want for your baby. What do you see?
The greatest power we are given in pregnancy and birth is the ability to examine our fears and make conscious choices. When you think you have gotten to the bottom of it for yourself, tell me what you think.
Do you respect birth? Is fear holding you back from a homebirth? If not, what is? I'd like to hear your thoughts.
About the Author
Maryn Leister is Publisher of Indie Birth, an online magazine devoted to homebirth, and natural living. Get your free subscription to Indie Birth and join the homebirth conversation.
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