Allyson - nurse_ally
DD Tayler 3/28/97; DS Cameron 5/15/05
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
What homebirth means to me: Holistic and spiritual experience of a natural time in the life cycle. Invigorating and empowering for women and their family.

Amalie - ecomama123
DS: Zion 11/96; DD's Kaya 1/99; Stella 6/00; Hanah 3/03; Indi; Tiva 11/04
the planet earth, residing in las vegas
What homebirth means to me: Birth is a normal bodily function, that works MUCH better when you're in a setting that is familiar and comfortable. Easier on the baby, easier on the mom. Peaceful and empowering.

Amanda - amandahaucknkiss
DS Cameron 10/25/03
Minneapolis, MN
What homebirth means to me: Homebirth is an incredible opportunity to listen to my body and make my own choices in labor and delivery. There is a sense of freedom and comfort in trusting myself and my environment.

Amanda - Amanda_Panda83
DSD Alaine' (stepdaughter 10/21/97); DD Kylie (natural hospital birth 4/24/02); DS Ethan (At Home waterbirth 4/9/04)
Murfreesboro TN
What homebirth means to me: Homebirth to me is peaceful, comfortable, relaxing, natural and spiritual. It is a blessed event for the entire family.

Amy - aehmnm
DD Elizabeth Nicole (Cole) 12/30/02, born at home in water
DS Richard Andrew (Drew) 10/17/04, born at home in water
Tijeras, NM (near ABQ)
What homebirth means to me: The only way to acheive a natural birth. It means the mother and father being particpants in the birth rather than being patients. It means being involved in birth, not managed in birth. It means the safety and welfare of both mother and baby. It means comfort and ease, and ability to do what is necessary. It means feeling the birth, not trying to do what outsiders want you to do. It means honoring the way we were born, the way we were created, not challenging it. It means the world to me and I wouldn't have it any other way unless necessary.

April - April2pearson
DS Ilijah 12/18/01; DD due on 9/15
Colorado
What homebirth means to me: My Mom and Dad had 12 kiddos together most of which were homebirths.  The midwife was busy when I was being born so my Mom did it by herself.  I had my son in a hospital, he was breech and ended up being a csection.  I remember wishing I had gone into labor and feeling cheated of my experience.  I came across the idea of a homebirth because my insurance wouldn't cover maternity.  Now that I have done all this research I am totally for a natural birthing experience.  I believe in my body and its ability to birth a baby naturally.  I am so excited to be able to experience labor for the first time.  The more I learn the more I wonder why all these women are going to the hospital and being robbed of their enjoyment of having a baby.

Corinne - ineedfood
DS Charles 8/1/02; DD Elise 7/15/05
Oxford, MS
What homebirth means to me: Homebirth allows the mother to birth naturally, with full acceptance of her body's intentions, in a perfect and whole space.

Dana - wantahug
DD due 8/23/05
Central VA
What homebirth means to me: Homebirth is an opportunity for me to bring my child into the world naturally, without intervention. Home allows me to avoid unnecessary medical intervention (I'm not sick, just pregnant), helps me avoid the risks of a hospital, and allows me to face my biggest fear (childbirth) head on--totally self-sufficient. It's going to be a growing experience for me, and a learning experience. I want my child/children to enter the world in the same environment where they were created, in a place of love and family. It gives me the control to have the birth experience I desire for myself and my family.

Hope - cl-hopeliboo

DS Dakoda 9/19/04

Lake Ridge, VA
What homebirth means to me: Natural and spiritual, a new life and its family coming together for the first time in their own time.

Jenny - jenerik01
DS due on 11/18/05
Jacksonville, FL
What homebirth means to me: Simple, Natural, Beautiful, Empowering, and a chance to trust in my body and the process the way it was intended to work best.

Jess - brazenladyj
DS Lyndon 11/08/92; DS Forrest 31/07/94; DD Shelby 06/05/97; DD Layne 30/04/99; DS Isaac 24/04/05
West Coast, BC Canada
What homebirth means to me: Peaceful, natural transition for mother and baby. Safe, empowering, pure.

Lili - susk
TTC#1 homebirth baby
Brooklyn, NY
What homebirth means to me: Homebirth is birth at it's best! It's a birth in which mom is encouraged to trust her instincts and intuition and act on them.

Olivia - mommyoj 2 3!
DD Elie who is three (7 weeks premie, hospital birth due to apendicitis); DS Isaac who is 20mths (HOMEBIRTH!); DD Talia who is 3weeks (HOMEBIRTH!).
We currently reside in Northern VA outside of Washington DC.
What homebirth means to me: Homebirth means to me the opportunity to trust in my body's ability to birth a new life into the world. It means the opportunity to be completely comfortable and able to be/do anything I want to while laboring. It means the opportunity to bring my child into this world in a peacful family environment. It means I can labor, deliver, and bond with my child without any intervention and in the way that is healthiest and most positive for me and my family. Homebirth is the only way for me to give birth (given a healthy pregnancy and baby).

Rita - frucat
DD Andrea 9/21/98; DD Erin 8/21/01; #3edd 3/18/06
Hesston, KS
What homebirth means to me: Homebirth means the freedom to truly follow my body's lead. I believe that a womans body knows how to birth a baby and if simply left alone will do the job in the best way for the woman and the child. It's a way to begin the relationship the same way that I hope to follow as the baby grows, peacefully and respectfully.

Tami - testami
DS Micah 5/15/99; DD Naomi 1/8/02; EDD for homebirth #3: 9/05
Minneapolis, MN
What homebirth means to me: Respecting the timing and the ways that my body and my baby birth best. A family event that belongs in the heart of the family.. the home.