I never imagined myself a home birthing kind of momma. Up until 2011 I didn’t even know that was an option. But let me tell you, IT IS!
I don’t care what kind of birth you have… home birth, scheduled cesarean, epidural hospital birth, or if you birth alone in the woods next to a baby deer. I care that you had options, that you were supported in your choices, and that you were respected. ~January Harshe– Birth Without Fear
How did I discover the option of home birth?
It was the summer of 2011 and I had already been pregnant three times. I had miscarried my first pregnancy after about six weeks in 2006. My second pregnancy went all the way to thirty five weeks and my son was born in the hospital premature with a fabulous doctor by my side. My third time being pregnant also ended with a miscarriage and it was then that my husband and I ran across a documentary one ‘Netflix and chill’ night about The Business of Being Born. It was eye opening to say the least because I remembered all that we’d encountered with my sons birth. We didn’t contemplate it too much but decided that IF (big IF) we were to get pregnant again we’d go the route of home birth.
What were we embarking on?
Brand spanking new territory here. No one I knew had ever done this whole home birth stuff. The last I knew of anyone doing this was my grandmother to my mom. So I did some research and found the prefect little birthing center right in Allen- Allen Birthing Center. I never considered my life changing from the moment I stepped foot into their quaint little house on Main Street, but it had. I went for a little tour and they talked to me about their options- birth center or home birth and put to rest all the worry and anxiety I had about any of this. It all felt very peaceful. To me, it felt right. The Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), who I would eventually call/text to help me deliver my last two babies was the person who was meant to deliver them.
My first home birth
My second son was born at home, in my bathtub on a Friday morning after 41 weeks of being pregnant. The night before he was born we went on a date- just my husband and I. What movie did we see? None other than ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ and I was having contractions throughout the entire movie and into the wee hours of the night. Labor lasted about 3 hours and was the complete opposite of my first labor. To me, it was just meant for us this way. I was euphoric. A feeling I hadn’t experienced before. With my oldest son I was too sedated to remember the joy and euphoria of it all. 
Fast forward three years…
Since I had such a great experience before, why not go with that? So, we did. I did. I never once doubted my decision to give birth at home. My monthly, bi-weekly, weekly visits with my certified nurse midwife and other fantastic midwives at the birthing center put my mind at ease and answered every single one of my crazy questions. The fact that I had options and I was respected in my decisions made all the difference to me. I was prone to high-risk pregnancies and felt safe knowing my midwives were in constant communication with a partnering OBGYN at the hospital where they maintain privileges. My third son was born just before midnight one cool December night after 41 weeks. The best part of it all was getting to see the faces of his big brothers waking up to meet the newest and youngest member of their crew.
Is home birth for everyone? Of course not. Was it for me? Most definitely. It’s all about options, knowledge and the courage to go with what you see best for your family.
