I have deliberately chosen to post in this thread because I generally think I know the views of many of the women who are regulars in here. And I am at work now so I haven't got time to go into great detail about my views but those of you who care too feel free to check and you will see I am VERY pro choice for women when it comes to birth (and think midwives rock )

My question - even for those of you who are birth activists and possibly even anti-OB or anti hospital - is if you could GUARANTEE that you would not be pushed into ANY unwarranted medical intervention (and I am talking even unwarranted internal exams, not just unwarranted inductions) would you have a problem with having a baby in a birth centre-type environment with an OB and hospital on standby? That is, are your concerns with having a baby in a hospital or near one (in an otherwise "home like" atmosphere) due to the fact that hospitals are, at the moment, not pro-natural birth at all? And if they were different, and OBs and surgery was ONLY used if REALLY needed, would you be ok with birthing there? Or is the desire for a homebirth, for arguments sake, driven by something other?

The reason I ask is that I personally had a fantastic experience at the Mercy FBC and would happily repeat it (I was supported, not hassled) but it is the looming threat that I am only a few doors from surgery and an OB that makes me think that I just might want a HB if I was pregnant again.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this........