How to Prepare for Home Birth

“In each of these beautiful birth stories there is a common thread of courage, strength, and trust in the magnificence of the work that is childbirth. We are not broken, we are strong, we are powerful, and we can move mountains when we get to birth on our terms.” —Tracy Donegan, midwife and founder of GentleBirth

“Reading this so-needed collection of very real but inspiring and deeply positive home birth stories was like reading about the births I have attended over the decades in my midwifery practice. I could picture each one as if I was there. There was love, laughter, tears, and such joy and gratitude—and my heart smiled. What a wonderful way to spread awareness, dispel myths, and alleviate common fears about home birth with well-trained and experienced midwives! There are stories for just about everyone: first timers; experienced moms opting for a better experience than previous ones in hospital; moms who had prior cesarean births; single, same sex, young, and older moms; moms with a variety of complications or variations of normal; moms with hard births; moms with easy gentle births; and a variety of dads. But there are common threads that can reassure, encourage, and even excite home birth families; words like calm, peaceful, beautiful, magical, ecstatic, empowering, transformative, exhilarating; as well as phrases like ‘It was the most spectacular moment of my life’ and ‘I would do it again without hesitation.’ Women felt incredibly safe, confident in the process, and supported like goddesses. They found their inner warrior strength and capabilities, and loved their experiences despite the challenges. What a powerful resource for those who are considering or planning home birth!” —Anne Margolis, certified nurse midwife, founder of HomeSweetHomebirth.com

“For those who never tire of reading a good birth story, this book is for you. It also is for women who are considering a home birth and want to hear about what to expect and how the experience has the potential to transform their lives.” —Cheryl K. Smith, managing editor of Midwifery Today

“The Many Faces of Home Birth is in a class all its own. Families who choose home birth do so for a myriad of reasons. This book tells the tales while being honest, candid, and sometimes hilarious. Labor is always different, no two people are alike, and birth communities vary from place to place. This book will help bring understanding to anyone looking to find out just how different home birth families can be, from maverick to medical. I give this book two thumbs up!” —Jessica Thompson, president and cofounder of SaferBirthinBama.org

“A wonderful compilation of home birth stories from the United States and Europe. The stories discuss why women choose home birth, their struggles to find a midwife, and even their fears. It is a realistic collection of stories that will inspire you to see home birth as normal.” —W. Yvonne Silbernagel, certified professional midwife