Although, nowadays, having a baby at home instead of at a hospital might seem strange to many, historically it's how it was done for centuries. It wasn't until the 1900s that more women started delivering their babies at hospitals, and eventually that became the norm. Still, home births have never gone away, and lately they are becoming a choice that more pregnant women are actively considering in order to stay away from hospitals where they might be exposed to germs, viruses, and diseases that they would rather avoid. "People are reconsidering their birth plans and doing whatever they need to avoid hospitals,'' Sarita Bennett, president of the Midwives Alliance of North America told The New York Times.
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If you are considering delivering a baby at home, you definitely want to do your research and talk to your doctor to see if it is a safe and viable option for you. A home birth is something that should be planned ahead of time so that you can set yourself and your baby up for the best possible outcome, while also having a contingency plan should anything go wrong. It's not a decision you should make based on any so-called "trends" and it's also not something you should be dissuaded from doing out of fear of being judged by people who have no business judging you.
We are not doctors, medical professionals, midwives, or doulas, which we encourage you to reach out to with questions if you are considering having a home birth. What we are here to provide you with is information to help you ask the right questions and eventually make an informed decision about whether a home birth is right for you. OK, let's get into this, shall we?