Santa Clarita Homebirth

A new study suggests that women who breastfeed decrease their risks of heart attacks and strokes.

Here is the abstract of Staying Home to Give Birth: Why Women in the United States Choose Home Birth from the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health:

Approximately 1% of American women give birth at home and face substantial obstacles when they make this choice. This study describes the reasons that women in the United States choose home birth. A qualitative descriptive secondary analysis was conducted in a previously collected dataset obtained via an online survey. The sample consisted of 160 women who were US residents and planned a home birth at least once. Content analysis was used to study the responses from women to one essay question: “Why did you choose home birth?” Women who participated in the study were mostly married (91%) and white (87%). The majority (62%) had a college education. Our analysis revealed 508 separate statements about why these women chose home birth. Responses were coded and categorized into 26 common themes. The most common reasons given for wanting to birth at home were: 1) safety (n = 38); 2) avoidance of unnecessary medical interventions common in hospital births (n = 38); 3) previous negative hospital experience (n = 37); 4) more control (n = 35); and 5) comfortable, familiar environment (n = 30). Another dominant theme was women’s trust in the birth process (n = 25). Women equated medical intervention with reduced safety and trusted their bodies’ inherent ability to give birth without interference.

It’s interesting how safety is the number one reason women give for a home birth!

Here are a few current stories and reflections in the blogosphere on homebirth: Prepping for a Homebirth(about how to prepare for a homebirth)
Birth Safety(about our notions of safety and outcomes)
Intentional Action, Ministerial Authority (and oh, a baby!) (about attending a birth)
She Came With Couch (about an unintentional homebirth)