Five Myths About Homebirth

Are you considering a homebirth?   Have you heard any of these?

• Homebirth is dangerous
• You are putting your baby in harms’ way
• Giving birth at home is illegal
• You have to take the baby to the hospital right after birth
• More babies die at homebirths than in the hospital

​Or your friends and family might ask, “What are you crazy?”

​Let’s debunk the myths one by one.

Myth #1 Homebirth is dangerous.
This is a very broad statement. Dangerous compared to what? Dangerous for who? Dangerous in what way?
In this landmark study on planned homebirth you will discover that among the low risk population who plan for homebirth, there are fewer interventions and no increased risk for mother or baby.
ACOG , American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, has their own opinion on the matter. Henci Goer does a great job as deciphering and comparing the 2011 and 2016 ACOG opinions.

Women who are healthy and at low risk for complications are great candidates for homebirth.  To say it is dangerous for all women is simply not true.

Myth #2  Your baby is in harms’ way.
If you do your research on homebirth safety and you feel confident and safe giving birth in your home then how are you putting your baby in harms’ way?

Midwives are trained to deal with circumstances that arise when it would be best to transport to a hospital. Most of the time the reason for transport is a non-emergency reason, such as failure to progress, or maternal exhaustion.
You still get to choose a provider who is clinically skilled, trained, and has a good reputation in the community, just as in other health care decisions.

You are the one that knows your baby, and what you want.

Myth #3 Giving birth at home is illegal.
In some states it is, but not everywhere. In many states homebirth is a legal, viable option. You get to find out the laws in the state that you live in, and what your options are. It’s a shame that in today’s society in the United States, not all women have access to all options. This is not only dictated by state laws governing midwives, but also by insurance, and access to care. Sadly, it’s not an equal opportunity for all.

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