So… things have taken a turn. Not a bad turn, just a different one. If you’ve been following my pregnancy journey from the beginning, you know how much I love a good plan. I’m the list-maker, the researcher, the one who prints out the hospital bag checklist six weeks early. But, as I’ve learned (yet again), pregnancy laughs in the face of carefully laid plans. And this time, it might be laughing all the way to a home birth.
Let’s back up for a second.
The Original Plan
From the beginning, I was 100% set on a hospital birth. I liked the idea of the safety net: doctors, nurses, an operating room down the hall just in case, and all the high-tech equipment I could possibly need. Plus, I figured being in the hospital would give me peace of mind, especially as a first-time mom.
I had also chosen a hospital with a great birthing center, complete with birthing tubs, dim lighting, and a very “crunchy-mama” friendly vibe. I thought I had found the best of both worlds — the security of modern medicine with the softness of a natural birth environment.
But then, in classic pregnancy fashion, everything started shifting.
Why We’re Rethinking Everything
It started with a few conversations with friends who had had home births — real, honest, and beautiful conversations that didn’t sugarcoat anything. They shared the mess, the magic, the intimacy of it all. And it got me thinking: What if we did this at home?
Then came the hospital policy updates. Some recent changes at our chosen hospital suddenly made the experience feel a lot less personal. Doula restrictions, limited visitor hours, and — most surprising of all — a weird rule about not being allowed to film or take pictures during labor. That hit me harder than I thought. I want to remember this. I want my baby to one day see what it looked like the moment we became a family.
At the same time, my appointments with our midwife were going better than I could’ve ever imagined. She’s warm, knowledgeable, experienced, and completely supportive — whether we decide to go to the hospital or stay home. She told me something that stuck: “You already know how to give birth. We’re just here to support your body’s wisdom.”
And then there’s Brian.
Big Brian Update!!
If you’ve been here a while, you know Brian — my husband, the most supportive human I know, and soon-to-be baby whisperer (I’m calling it now). He’s been incredible through this whole journey, but lately… something shifted in him. I don’t know what sparked it, but suddenly, he was the one bringing up home birth.
He said something the other day that stopped me in my tracks: “I just keep picturing us here, in our space, music playing, the dogs curled up nearby. I picture us holding our baby on our bed, not in a hospital gown with fluorescent lights.”
Cue tears.
He’s also been deep diving into research (which is both adorable and helpful), talking to other dads who’ve supported their partners through home births, and even found a birth photographer who specializes in home settings. The man is in it.
It’s wild how what started as a “maybe someday” dream has slowly become the most natural next step.
The Pros and Cons
We’re not jumping into anything without serious thought, so we’ve been making lists (again, I love a list) and talking to everyone — our midwife, other parents, a backup OB just in case, even our families. Here’s what it’s come down to:
Home Birth Pros:
- Comfort of being in our own space
- No need to travel while in labor
- More freedom to move, eat, rest how I want
- Full control over who is present
- Immediate bonding time after birth
- Easier for Brian to stay involved without hospital restrictions
Home Birth Cons:
- Emergency care is not immediately available (but our midwife is trained to recognize red flags)
- It’s a mental shift — letting go of the “safety net” mentality
- Some family members are worried (okay, very worried)
- Clean-up (though our midwife team handles most of it)
We’re still weighing it all, but the scale is tipping toward home. I never thought I’d say that. Truly. But the more I picture the experience I want, the more I realize it’s about trust. Trusting my body, my partner, my birth team. And maybe a little bit of trust in the chaos of it all, too.
Brian’s Thoughts (Straight from the Source)
Okay, so I asked Brian to share a few words for this update, and here’s what he said (I swear I didn’t edit it — he’s just this sweet):
“I’ve seen you grow into this version of yourself that is strong, calm, and intuitive. I believe in you completely. Wherever this baby is born, I just want it to feel like we’re surrounded by love, not fear. If that means catching our baby in our living room, I’m all in.”
Yeah. I married that guy.
What Comes Next
Right now, we’re prepping for both possibilities. We have a hospital bag packed just in case, but we’re also working on creating a peaceful home birth setup — think fairy lights, essential oils, playlists, and allllll the pillows. The midwife team has walked us through every scenario, and we’ve set up a transfer plan with a nearby hospital just in case.
I know birth rarely goes exactly how you imagine, but that’s kind of the beauty of it. We’re staying open, flexible, and grounded in the idea that no matter where it happens, this baby is coming into a space full of love, intention, and strength.
And that, to me, is the best plan of all.
Final Thoughts
If you’re pregnant and considering your options, I just want to say this: It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to pivot. It’s okay to say, “That used to feel right, but now this does.” Your birth, your body, your call.
Whether this baby is born under twinkle lights in our bedroom or in a hospital suite with a full medical team, I know we’ll be okay. Because we’re walking into this next chapter together — hand in hand, with a little bit of courage, a lot of trust, and probably a few unexpected twists along the way.
Thanks for being part of this wild, beautiful ride.
Stay tuned — things are getting real. 💛
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