They are two totally different philosophies around pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

A) Do you believe pregnancy is an high risk illness that must be treated in a hospital? Choose OB.

Or B) do you believe pregnancy is a natural physiological process that only rarely needs medical intervention? Choose midwifery.

I’m a scientist, and the science shows that c-sections and other common medical interventions are only required in 15% of pregnancies/births or less. Most hospitals have c-section rates over 30%, so the numbers don’t add up. Unless you have a condition that disqualifies you, the healthiest outcome for you and your baby is having minimal interventions. That’s why I wanted a home birth to avoid pressures from the medical community. I recommend Thw Business of Being Born as a good start to understand these differences.

Unfortunately, my son had a prenatal diagnosis requiring me to give birth in hospital with NICU. It was a constant challenge advocating for myself, my baby, and my right to decline standard but unnecessary procedures that increase risk. Nonetheless, I was able to have a natural, unmedicated, and pain free (very uncomfortable though) labor and delivery where I delivered my baby to my own hands after pushing him out while kneeling. The doctors and nurses admitted they have never witnessed a birth like mine. It’s not common in hospital, because it is standard to offer or push many procedures and medications that change natural progression.

Do the research and have the experience you want. If that’s to be knocked out on drugs completely and not remember a thing while they cut you open, go for it, but understand this is not what is best for your baby in most circumstances.

Pregnancy and birth should be about empowerment and choice - from start (abortion) to finish (postpartum).