Home Birth
| Wider range of choices in caregiving; some doctors, some nurse-midwives, and all lay midwives and birth facilitators assist at home | Not all insurance companies pay for home birth expenses |
| Spirituality of the birth experience can be a priority | Filing for birth certificate is parent's responsiblity, although some midwives do this |
| Homebirths involve fewer episiotomies and c-sections because the natural rhythms of the body are respected; these procedures are often done because of lack of patience on the part of the caregiver | Complications can result if caregivers do not know what to do in an emergency |
| Arrangements for hospital care can sometimes be made in advance in case complications occur | In case of emergency, there may be a delay in receiving care as you transport to the hospital |
| Responsbility for safe birth rests with parents | 8 |
| Freedom to control your own birth experience is maintained | 8 |
| Involves no hospital fee, and midwives' fees are usually much lower than physicians | 8 |
| Environment is safe, warm, and inviting, making relaxation easier and labor go smoother | 8 |
| Mother and baby have already developed antibodies to any germs found in the home, so they pose little threat to mother and child | 8 |
| Mother can eat, drink, and move around as she chooses | 8 |
| Infant's birth experience can be enhanced through lowered noise level, lowered lighting, and water birth if desired | 8 |
| Children can be present at birth if desired | 8 |
| No separation of mother from infant | 8 |
| Father or partner can have as active a role as he wants in the birth, can even "catch" the baby | 8 |
| Mother can give birth totally unassisted if she chooses to | 8 |
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Judie C. Rall and The Center for Unhindered Living
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