What are the benefits of a homebirth and/or a waterbirth?

Answer 1

They're two different things. You can have a waterbirth at home or an institution. There are actually some mid-wives who offer a "home" birth at their office.
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/homebirthchoice.asp
"Homebirth allows for full participation of family members. Under the guidance and assistance of the midwife, the opportunity is available for husbands or partners to "catch" their child as it is born. These moments can be very powerful and transformational in the lives of the new parents.

At homebirths, babies are usually immediately placed on the mom's stomach or breast, providing security, warmth and immediate bonding between mom and baby. This contact provides security for both mom and baby."

The Benefits of Water
for Labor and/or Birth
Greater comfort and mobility. The mother has much greater ease and freedom to move spontaneously and to change position to assist the descent of the baby.

Reduction of pressure on the abdomen. Buoyancy promotes more efficient uterine contractions and better blood circulation, resulting in better oxygenation of the uterine muscles, less pain for the mother, and more oxygen for the baby.

Helps mother to conserve her energy. Immersion reduces opposition to gravity; supports the mother's weight so that her energy can be used to cope with the contractions.

Promotes deeper relaxation. As a woman relaxes deeply in water, her hormones kick in and she starts progressing faster and with more rhythm; labor becomes more efficient.

Water relaxes the pelvic floor muscles.

Water minimizes pain so effectively that for most women other pain control methods are no longer needed.

Water stimulates the touch and temperature nerve fibers in the skin. It blocks impulses from the pain fibers, known as the Gate Theory of Pain.

Immersion is often more effective and safer than an epidural. Some people call waterbirth an "aquadural."

Facilitates a dysfunctional labor. Water can be an effective way to stimulate dilation of the cervix when the mother has difficulty progressing into the active stage of labor.

Water can reduce the need for drugs to artificially stimulate labor. Often, simply getting into the tub will result in dramatic and rapid progress to full dilation within an hour or two.

Lowering of blood pressure. When anxiety is causing high blood pressure, immersion in water often helps lower it.

Change of consciousness. Immersion helps relieve anxiety and promotes relaxation. Water helps a woman to let go and focus inward as labor strengthens.

Easier breathing. Moisture in the air makes it easier to breathe and can be helpful to women with asthma.

Facilitates the second stage of labor. Many mothers are less inhibited in the water. The warm water softens the vagina, vulva, and perineum, leading to fewer injuries to these tissues.

Many women experience rapid second stages, with the baby emerging minutes after the body starts pushing, also known as the fetus ejection reflex (see Odent, The Nature of Birth and Breastfeeding).

Empowerment of the mother. When a woman delivers her baby while remaining awake, aware and in control, it greatly enhances the birth experience for her and becomes a source of great personal strength and power that enriches her life forever.

Greater involvement of the father. Because the mother's pain and stress is so greatly reduced, it is much easier for fathers to particpate and take a more active role in the birthing process. Many men are reluctant to become involved in the birth experience when they know that the mother is likely to endure intense pain, trauma and suffering during labor and delivery.

Enhanced family relationships. When the mother's pain is dramatically reduced, many fathers eagerly take a more active role in the delivery, resulting in a greater family bond. When fathers are more involved it increases the possibility of a joyous birth. Both parents and child get to share a wonderous experience that can enhance their relationships with each other for the rest of their lives.

Better parent-child interactions. A mother who has had a beautiful and empowering birth experience will have an especially positive association in her mind and emotions to that child; and a baby who has had an easy, non-traumatic, not painful, gentle birth will have an especially positive association to the parent. This exceptionally positive start to their relationship will likely enhance the parent-child interactions forever.

Evolving humanity in a positive direction. Many psychologists believe that babies born gently grow up to become more gentle adults, and have a greater ability to deal with problems non-violently.

Resources: Daniels, 1986; Balaskas, 1990; Lichy, 1993; Napierala, 1994.
http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/benefits.html

Answer 2

Homebirth is better in many ways. Because you are at home and not interfered with your body is able to relax and do its job. You don't have any silly hospital policies and no "cascade of interventions" like in a hospital where they might say your labor is going to slow and then you "need" pitocin and then the pain gets too intense and you ask for an epidural which causes your baby to go into distress and voila- you get a c-section the need for which was really caused by them thinking you were laboring too "slowly" because you didn't meet their labor speed guidelines (which are ridiculous).

You have lower rates of risk for everything from fetal distress to birth injuries. If you have a trained midwife who carries oxygen and neonatal recussitation equipment a homebirth is actually safer than the average hospital birth.

The only disadvantage is if some rare thing comes up where you need immediate medical care (abruptio placenta, for example) then you or the baby might die. It's a very very very small chance but it is possible.

Waterbirth is called "nature's epidural" and is good for relaxing you and helping you cope with labor better.

Also my daughter got a staph infection in the hospital when she was born. I had to give her antibiotics and they caused her to scream in pain (abdominal pain, I assume) though everything turned out fine in the end. At home you don't have any of those germs.

Hope that helps in your decision.

Answer 3

i was too scared to do a home birth... what if something were to go wrong. but i did labor in the tub. keep in mind that the tub doesnt take away the pain at all it just helps manage it. if your going to do a home water birth check with your hospital to see what you need to do in order to steraluze your tub because a baby is prone to infection. i wasnt able to birth in the water but ive heard its less traumatizing to the baby. there are also classes you can take to learn more about water birth! good luck with your birthing experiance!! mine was amazing, i got the most beautiful 6 lbs 1 oz baby girl!

Answer 4

one home birth benefit would be no hospital germs.but no medical equipment/doctors/nurses in case of emergency.