We live in a wonderful time of choices when it comes to how and where we can give birth. There are hospitals, birthing centers, hospitals with birthing centers, the occasional taxi, and home. Not so long ago, the latter seemed like a relic of the past that only hippie earth mamas were still doing. But that was before famous models and actors (some of whom, yes, are also hippie earth mamas) started to share their stories of incredible home births.
When everyone from Cindy Crawford to Erykah Badu to Ricki Lake opened up in interviews, essays and social media about the powerful experience of giving birth in their homes, the stigma began to drop away. Other celebs often cite Lake’s documentary The Business of Being Born, as their inspiration for looking into this setting for themselves. Many women in the country followed suit. In 1997, there were 35,578 out-of-hospital births in the U.S., and by 2017, that number increased to 62,228.
Just because it’s trendy, doesn’t mean it’s for everyone, of course. There are many things to consider when making the decision to labor and deliver at home, including your own risk factors and the proximity of a hospital, should something go wrong. And yes, giving birth in a hospital can be a beautiful experience too! But if you’re thinking about this option, you’ll find inspiration in these quotes and stories from famous mothers who had their babies in the comfort (or, yeah, discomfort) of their own homes.
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