More than any other time in recent history we are asking ourselves honestly what is best for our babies, homebirth vs hospital birth.

Those of us who have already made that choice can tell you that homebirth has been a defining moment in our lives! It is said that during birth we truly meet ourselves and for the first time we are given the chance to allow our greatest potential to be fulfilled.

But this is not a journey we travel alone, and as grand as it is for us, just think about what an enormous and defining experience birth is for your Baby!

With all of the nervousness, excitement and anticipation it’s easy for us to get caught up in our own heads with our own agendas about our natural childbirth and we sometimes forget that we are merely here for the ride, and that this whole show is being put on for our Baby.

This is our child’s birth and it matters more than we can ever imagine! It is his first step in his new land. This experience teaches and imprints the child deeply.

We should put careful thought into what we want our children to learn from this experience, and what imprint we wish to leave with them. This is not something to be taken lightly, this event will set the foundation for the rest of their lives.

In this article we will explore homebirth vs hospital birth from your baby’s perception and discover what natural childbirth means to your baby.

Challenging Society’s Beliefs About Awareness in the Newborn

There seems to be a harmful misconception in our society that newborn babies just aren’t quite full human beings yet, that because they are small, and they don’t talk, they don’t see, hear or move like we do that they must not be capable of experiencing the full range of emotions yet either.

Many may argue that this is not true, that of course we recognize babies as being human!

But if this is so then why would we possibly allow our babies to be treated with such carelessness, disregard and even violence upon their first entrance into the world?

“Why must a child emerge from the quiet darkness of the womb into a blaze of blinding light and loud voices? Why must an infant take its first breath in terror, hanging upside down as its vulnerable spine is jerked straight? Why must the infant be separated from its mother after spending nine months inside her nourishing body?”

~Frederick Leboyer

In an attempt to understand birth from a babies perspective I am going to tell the story of birth and I want you for a moment to imagine that you are the baby, and that this is your birth.

Homebirth vs Hospital – “Un” Natural Childbirth – The Baby’s Story

Imagine, you are safe, warm and cozy in the womb, surrounded by the familiar comfort of your Mother. Then suddenly your world is pressing in on you from all directions, you hear your Mom screaming and yelling, you feel her fear and it causes you to clinch with fright.

You are then drugged, you can’t think straight, you are scared and you don’t know what’s going on, you think this must be the end, that you must be dying. You are then forced down into a dark tunnel, and you hear strange voices shouting PUSH PUSH!!!

Then suddenly, you come out into a strange room, with these bright blinding lights and weird machines beeping. It’s filled with strange people. Your cold and scared, and the light makes it hard for you to open your eyes. Your groggy and disoriented from the drugs. People are shouting all around you, “It’s a BOY, it’s a GIRL! There loud voices pound through your fragile eardrums. And you are being carelessly clutched in the gloved hands of a strange man wearing a mask.

You look around for something familiar,  something to explain what is happening to you!

You hear your Moms voice and want to go to her. But instead you are surrounded by strangers who roughly dry you off, then proceed to shove things in your mouth, poke you with needles and run tests on you.

You are crying and screaming profusely but no one seems to take notice or care, they are too busy congratulating themselves for a job well done.

If your lucky you get to meet your Mom for a moment before being whisked away down the hall and into a  room with a bunch of other babies like you, who are scared and crying for the love of their Mothers, but she is no where to be found.

“Oh my God, is this what the world is like?”

What Kind of Message is That Sending to Your Baby?

I can’t imagine it sending the message that it is welcomed and accepted, that it will always be loved and kept safe. Rather I imagine it being a terrifying experience, that would make me just want to crawl back inside of myself and hide.

How can we raise confident children when with their first experience we strip them of their dignity?

Imagine The Alternative – A Sacred, Respected and Natural Homebirth

Your Mom feels her birthing sensations begin, she takes a deep breath and fills herself with the most peaceful and calm feeling imaginable. She lights some candles, turns on soothing music, or takes a warm bath. She talks to you and lets you know that everything is ok, not to fear, you’re birth will be a sacred event that you will journey through together in trust, faith and love, and that you will be born into a peaceful and loving home.

The birthing space is being held by the select few who your Mother has chosen to be with her, they are there bringing her comfort, making her feel safe and loved. They are there to honor her and to honor you.

As the natural child birth progresses your Mother does not allow herself to be swept away by fear, rather she soars into greatness and awakens to an inner strength that introduces her to her full exquisite and powerful self.

She embraces the power of her body, and for a moment in time feels connected with the ancestral wisdom of every woman that has gone before her.  She is releasing, opening and allowing her body to lead her.

The walls of your world are tightening all around you, you are nervous and not quite sure what is going on, but then you feel the soothing and calm vibrations that she’s sending your way. You feel her love emanating through you and all around you. You take the leap into the unknown, release and let go!

You ease gently out into a dimly lit room, it is filled with peaceful and loving vibrations. No one is running around, or shouting. It is as if you are entering a holy temple, the space is respected, voices are hushed and peace fills the room.

You are surrounded by the gentle warmth of water or of a cozy room.

You are guided into life and welcomed for the first time into the loving hands of your Father. What an amazing introduction! But still you yearn for your Mother, your only true source of familiarity and comfort.

You hears your Mommas voice, look around and there she is, gazing at you with the warmest smile. You are placed in her arms, you feel welcomed, safe and loved.

Your Mother instinctively offers you her bosom, you yearn for that connection and happily latch on. You are wrapped snugly in her arms surrounded by her love. Your belly is filled with the sweetness of your Mommas milk.

You feel loved and safe, and so curious as to where you are. You are very alert and spend the next few hours looking around bright eyed and curious before drifting comfortably off to sleep.  You have entered your new kingdom in peace, you are home.

To us the choose is clear, homebirth vs hospital birth, how do you think your baby would choose to be born?