Why We Are Planning a Home Birth

38 Weeks

When we tell people we are planning a home birth, they usually react with horror or a, “you-go-girl!” Everyone eventually asks, “Why?” 

Here are two reasons that were NOT factors for us:

1.    We are NOT trying to avoid necessary medical interventions.  We thank God for modern medicine.  It has saved the lives of many women and babies.  Necessary medical interventions are…well…necessary.  If a problem arises during labor, we will transfer to the hospital (which is only a 5-10 minute drive from our apartment).  

2.     We are NOT pursuing some sort of idyllic birth experience or sense of personal accomplishment.  Some women who advocate home birth are “mom-zillas” (affectionately named after wedding crazy-bridezillas) seeking a ‘perfect’ birth experience: a birth that is convenient, comfortable, and provides a sense of personal fulfillment. The truth is that births rarely go according to plan.  We need to be flexible.

So, why are we planning a home birth?

We are planning a home birth because it is in the best interest of our family.

1.  Home birth is in the best interest of our baby.

By choosing home birth, we are eliminating unnecessary medical interventions that may harm our baby.  These interventions are routine in Taiwan’s (and many of America’s) hospitals and are often done without consulting the parents first.  For example:

--Pitocin and other drugs are frequently given to speed up labor or provide pain relief that can cause baby distress

--Membranes are often artificially ruptured to speed labor, which can also cause baby distress

--Forceps and vacuums are routinely used to speed delivery for the doctor, which can harm baby

--Baby is often taken from mom and dad after birth for extensive testing, which prevents bonding and the opportunity to establish breast-feeding

--The umbilical cord is routinely cut immediately before it stops pulsing, which can negatively affect the baby’s blood volume and blood pressure

Conversely:

--Our midwife, trained and equipped to address most birth-related hiccups, is baby-focused rather than speed-and-convenience-focused.

2. Home birth is in the best interest of mom.

By choosing home birth, we are eliminating unnecessary medical interventions that may harm Kayt.  Again, these interventions are routine in Taiwan’s (and again in many of America’s) hospitals and are often done without consulting the parents first.  They include:

--Mandatory intravenous drips, fetal monitoring, and even stirrups that confine mom to bed for her entire labor and delivery

--Unnecessary C-sections done primarily for the doctor’s convenience or to correct problems caused by drugs and other previous interventions

--Routine episiotomies, which are often more painful and take longer to heal than natural stretching or tearing

--Unapproved drugs administered via the IV that might have adverse affects on Kayt (especially since she has allergies to gluten and other drugs that are not understood by most doctors in Taiwan)

Conversely:

--With the midwife’s assistance, she can labor in positions that promote a normal and healthy delivery

--She can easily communicate with the midwife in English, helping her make informed decisions to keep her and baby healthy

--She will be allowed to eat/drink during labor, and we can be sure that everything going into her body is gluten-free

3. Home birth is in the best interest of dad.

In Taiwan (and still sometimes in America), dads are often not present for their wife’s labor and delivery.  By choosing home birth, Kalan will be able to participate in the birth of our baby.

--He can participate in comfort measures during labor, guided by our midwife

--He can easily communicate with the midwife, and make important decisions in the case of complications or emergencies

Home birth is in the best interest of each member of our growing family.  We are glad that it is an option for us. Yet regardless of what happens on the big day, we want to respond with hearts full of thankfulness.