Promoting Homebirth

Our film project is on hold for now, but I want to keep Project Homebirth alive and kicking. I want to share homebirth with others. What do you do to promote homebirth as a viable option to pregnant women?

I admit I had a friend touting the joys of homebirth when I was pregnant with my first and I didn't believe a word of it. I had no frame of reference for what birth would be like... I had only heard of the pain. I wasn't sure what I would do about the pain. I read a lot, and decided to go for a natural birth. I signed up for birth classes not affiliated with the hospital. But we still went to the hospital. I was ready to try homebirth by the time I was pregnant with baby number three... but it took until baby number five to convince my husband that it was a safe option.

When he took hold of his third daughter as she was being born and felt her take her first breath... he was converted for life.

How do we make this transition in people's minds before they are subjected to hospital protocols and possible cesareans? I think the great films that are out now like "Business of Being Born" and "Orgasmic Birth" really do help let people know there are other options. The recent studies promoting the safety of homebirth also help... if people have access to them.

C'mon... join the cause. Promote homebirth. Homebirth is an excellent way for moms and babies to start their lives together.

What This Project Means

Project Homebirth is near and dear to our hearts. Our first homebirth took place in 1999 with our fifth child. Our home burned down in the middle of the pregnancy. Luckily, we all got out safe and sound. Our home, however, was a loss. We moved into an apartment while our house was rebuilt.

Looking forward to our homebirth kept us focused on the future. The other children were involved at all the prenatals, and our youngest at the time (almost 2) loved to try out the midwife's fetoscope.

When our fifth child was born (a girl!) into her daddy's waiting arms, it seemed like we had managed to overcome the adversity the fire had sent our way. It was a magical event that brought us all closer together.

We want to share this feeling with the world. We know that other families have felt the same way about homebirth. To counteract the atmosphere of fear that the media and the medical community insist on spreading about homebirth, we want to make Project Homebirth a true labor of love.

Please consider participating and sharing your story.

Looking for Participants!

Ever want to be in a movie? Now is your chance! Send us a short video or audio clip of you talking about your homebirth, why you chose to birth at home, or how it made an impact on your family. :) We want YOUR voice to be heard!

We will have a short release for you to sign, and your recording may be used for promotional needs as well as in the film. We want to create a montage of voices speaking out for homebirth.

The AMA issued a statement last year against homebirth as a safe option for women and babies. ACOG has long been against homebirth. They would love for the only choice for birthing women to be the hospitals and affiliated birth centers, with their climbing cesarean rates. At this point in the United States, a woman walking into a hospital to give birth as a one in three chance of having her baby surgically. At some hospitals it is a one in two chance.

The latest homebirth study shows how safe homebirth is in most cases. Please join us in showing the world (especially the United States and Australia... the rest of the world seems to get it for the most part) how safe and beautiful homebirth can be.

Join Project Homebirth!