Unconventional bonuses to a home birth

While not all agree with home birthing, most realize the basic advantages (essentially it is more relaxing, no dash to pack for the hospital, no need to wake the kids or call anyone in the middle of the night, and home birth midwives tend to be more relaxed, allowing a mother to do what mothers have done for centuries.)

But after three hospital births and two at home, I have found a few unconventional reasons to stick with home births.  Here they are in no particular order.


1.  No need to try and fit 'real jeans'
Every hospital birth comes with the inevitable car ride home.  And no mom wants to be wearing maternity pants while carrying the baby in her arms.  But alas, weight gained over 9 months rarely comes off in the  24-36 hours you have in the hospital.  With my first three kids I squeezed into the largest pair of jeans I owned (tip-low rise is easier, wear a long shirt to cover the muffin-top).  This was neither good for me, nor particularly encouraging.  I do not think a new mother needs to be reminded how long the road to recovery is, nor does she need her circulation cut off by a pair of jeans.

Of course plenty of smart mothers wear sweats, or some similar fabric, others just go ahead and wear the maternity pants.  But for idiots like me, who only wear jeans.  We prefer the home birth.  No one expects jeans for weeks (if you even have any non family to notice)

2. You can do laundry right away.
This might not seem like a bonus, but birth and the after, is messy.  Diapers leak, pads fail to cover the full range, and accidents happen.   You need to be able to wash plenty of undergarments, maybe sheets, and pants.  In the hospital they will give you new sheets, and maybe a chux pad, but you are stuck with lousy disposable 'panties' or your own.  I have tossed several pair for each of my first three births.  I have also had to fold a spare hospital blanket multiple ways to find a clean spot to sit on.  Tossing things in the wash is so much easier at home.

3. Meals are delivered when you want them, and are (kinda) what you want.
In general hospital food has not really improved no matter what studies and reports tell you.  Plus have a kid in the middle of the night, and you are left with a dinner no one claimed from 6 hours ago, or some spare cheap peanut butter packets and crackers.  (yes I am particular about my peanut butter)  On the other hand at home, I had yogurt (my brand) and juice right away.  I also had the breakfast of my choice in the morning.  While someone in the family has to prep food at home....someone in the family will prep food at home!  I don't care if the hospital does have a paid staff, they are not just beyond the door eager to help me, they have a hospital full of patients, and no matter how nice, the best they can offer is cafeteria style food.

4. You can delay buying a new car.
I now have a family of 7 and a car that only seats 6.... fortunately we don't all need to go anywhere for a bit. If I had been forced to go to a hospital I might have felt pressured to buy something just so we had it to come home in.

5. My water tastes better
I hate ice, I hate the metallic taste of ice made in a commercial machine.  I hate that I cannot forget the article I read long ago about how much mold is in the majority of commercial ice makers.  I have worked in many restaurants, no they do not actually clean the ice machines.  On the other hand, I don't like tap water, I know I am spoiled, I try not to let my kids get that way.  Water in my house is filtered, and tastes great.  Chilled in the fridge with no need of ice, it is perfect, even served with a lemon by a cute waiter (or waitress).

6. My chair, my pillows, my bed.....
I had a 'possessed' hospital bed once, it was supposed to 'automatically adjust for comfort'.  What it did was wake me up every 10-40 minutes all night long.  I have had plenty of plastic-y pillows, and scratchy blankets.  I also have to call for a nurse, wait till she shows up, ask for a third pillow, wait till she returns, and hope she remembered my simple request.  At home I call a kid and the are overjoyed to have something useful to do bringing me a pillow ASAP.