[...] Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and other Celebrity Homebirths [...]

I will never understand the big focus on the birth experience. As long as the baby is healthy, I really don’t know why you’d care much one way or the other.

I don’t know, Ali. Equating home birth with home surgery isn’t going to be very popular with families working hard to make home birth legal, accessible and affordable (I hear ya, ChiLaura!). Remember, birth is something the body was designed to do. Tearing it open and pulling stuff out — as is required with surgery? Not so much. (Though, thanks to technology, we can!).
On the affordability issue, ChiLaura, I know! Some insurance policies reimburse. But not enough. I think homebirth access should be something Obama’s looking at — total money-saver for medicine!
And, Chiken? You’re right, as long as the baby is healthy! So bring on homebirth!

Abby, thank you for your comment! I completely agree that it is important to help women understand their choices, and after that respect the decision they make for themselves and their families. I don’t hear this enough. (Usually someone is pushing or judging.)

Thanks for the clarification, Abby! Will correct immediately!

I’m all for women having choices and making their own choices…no matter what they are. In the end, it is all about having a healthy baby. Natural birth at home doesn’t make you any more of a woman than having a c-section at a hospital. Or vice versa. Why can’t we as women want what’s best for us as individuals and as women, and also understand that what that is exactly differs from person to person????

The thing is there is huge difference in birth and surgery/medical procedures. Birth (natural birth) is as old as life itself. Birth is a natural thing, made by nature , it is how life is meant to start. It has a purpose, all of it, the feelings, the hormones, the actions, the emotions, it is as natural as you can get, and it has a design. Medical procedures, surgeries, they are a man made thing, to save a life. Maybe to a lot of people, they don’t see why the two can’t mix, and it is awesome that they can to save a life, but medical procedures are not needed for birth, they came after birth. There are so many medical interventions used in birth that interrupt nature and the design that is forever old.

For some it may not matter how the baby is born, as long as it is healthy. I think that maybe you don’t know what you are missing. The birth of your baby, it is the most magical, emotional, significant amazing moments in your life. To have that happen in a peaceful surrounding (whether at home or in a hospital, whatever makes you comfortable) is amazing. To be able to focus on that moment, have people there who understand that moment and how significant it is in your life is important. The birth of my first child was a c-section, the OB might as well been removing an appendix, she had no care or concern to the significance of that moment for me, to her it was just another day, another surgery. If the surgery was to save my babies life, I would be greatful but I felt sad that the moment was overlooked and unimportant to the other people in that room, the moment I first met my beautiful daughter (which was second before they wisked her away for more procedures even though she was perfectly healthy). After the natural birth (in hospital) of my twins, the way I felt, the way I was designed to feel, it was wonderful. The hospital surrounding and all of the medical staff involved made in not peaceful so there were interruptions in the special moment I first met my little ones. Having a natural birth surrounded by people who understand the significance to me is important. It is a moment a mom remembers forever, it changes the whole world (for that family), it is a moment that deserves and was designed to be treated as a miracle, not a procedure.