Why did you choose a homebirth?

[Beatrix]

The initial reason was due to myself labouring extremely fast and preferring to birth at home rather then in a car with the added bonus of being medically/mentally prepared instead of unplanned.

Now after home birthing unassisted (lol no planned unassisted) I couldn't imagine going back to a hospital. Was bliss to just shower and settle in our home after the birth. Now when I sit in my lounge room I tell my baby girl that she was born right there!!

[Cricket]

I first chose a home birth because of the reading and research I had done on it. I knew it was a good, safe option for me and my baby, and I really liked the idea of having my baby in my own home, recovering in my own bed, using my own shower and toilet, and running on my own schedule. I had two previous hospital births which had gone just fine, but I knew that the hospital wasn't necessary for a safe birth. Especially with my first baby, I was woken up all through the night at the hospital to have my blood pressure and temperature taken, and the nurses were constantly telling me that my baby wanted to eat. (She nursed NON-STOP for the first 24 hr, but every time I set her down, someone would come in and say "Oh, looks like she's rooting - better try feeding her....") I didn't like having to walk way down the hallway to the shared bathroom on the maternity floor, taking my baby with me in her little plastic cart, or having to use the shared showers. I know how dirty hospitals can be, and I much prefer my own home! DH was a little hesitant at first, but he trusted my judgment and supported my decision. I loved the care I got from my midwives all through the pregnancy, and the support during the delivery was great as well. Our home birth went beautifully, and DH and I both agreed that we would never want to return to the hospital unless it was truly necessary.