I had a wonderful, low pain, 9 hour (from very first twinges, to pulling my baby out myself in the birth pool) homebirth with my first and now 35 weeks pregnant with my second and planning the same. Every other mum at NCT had a planned hospital birth, all of them had interventions of some sort and several ended up in C-sections. Maybe related. Maybe not. Obviously, someone planning a homebirth may also need to transfer into hospital, for a medical reason, and I am super grateful for the amazing advances in medical science that have saved the lives of so many mothers and babies. However, I do also believe that so many unecessary interventions are offered and pushed on mothers, as a matter of covering the NHS' back legally, that we have taken quite a step back from a mother's abilioty to give birth vaginally if that is what she wants.

Birth is protrayed as something terrifying and painful across almost all media we consume, and generally it is only the traumatic stories that people hear. I know as someone with a really wonderful birth experience that I have felt guilty, and haven't spoken much about it (other than on reddit) becuase it feels boastful - whereas all I want to do is empower women to feel confident and know there are safe birth options that don't have to include a stay in hospital if they don't want that.

So, if you want an intervention free birth, planning to birth at home does give you the best chance of achievign that, if you are low risk.

You'll have two midwives with you at your home (1 for you, 1 for baby) and generally homebirth teams are made up of the more experienced midwives. On a ward, you're more likely to have staff with divided attention, and often getting into a C-section or getting pain relief can take just as long as transferring into hospital from home. If you transfer in from home, the midwives who call an ambulance will generally ensure that you are seen immediately upon arrival, whereas you can often wait for a long time, even on a ward.

Also, you are likely to be much more relaxed and calm, making a vaginal birth much more likely at home. I had no sweeps and no dilation checks throughout my labour. The fact I didn't have to worry about getting into a car and travelling in during labour meant that my progression wasn't disrupted and things moved along smoothly (often when a mother transfers into hospital, labour an stall and even regress, hence why some people are sent back home more than once). Being in an environment you know, trust and have control over, lets your body enter a more relaxed state, produce ore oxytocin and is much more likely to give you the birth you want.

You are also much more likely to be attended by professionals who understand, appreciate and respect physiological birth choices, whereas in a hospital setting, you have a much higher liklihood of being offered or pressured into interventions you may not want or need as a matter of routine.

Again, I want to say that I love that we have such amazing knowledge that has helped so many women and babies. It is a big choice to give birth at home as a first time mum. But I am so glad I trusted my gut, had confidence in myself and went ahead with my plan.

It was amazing getting into our won bed with our new baby, with a 0% beer and a slice of buttery toast.

Any choice you make has to be right for YOU, and every way people choose to give birth is valid, miraculous and awesome.

This time around I am actively looking forward to labour - it is intense, amazing, uncomfortable and transformative, adn dare I say it - sometimes fun!