While some of us only imagine birth being pleasurable with the assistance of an epidural, there are some of us crunchy-gals who are all in for a birth without intervention.

Notice I didn’t call a birth without an epidural or cesarian birth ”drug-free” or ”natural”?

That’s because all birth is natural,and if you decide to birth without an epidural, your body produces it’s own ”drugs” to get through the discomfort (oxytocin & adrenaline, just to name a few).

That said, there’s a lot of cultural shame and pressure on both sides to birth our babies a certain way. And to that point, I deeply believe that as women, we intuitively know what is best for us, especially when we’re empowered with knowledge. But here are a few points to consider as your navigating your options.

Hospital vs home vs birth center…how do you choose?

A good place to start is your fear or desire for autonomy: are you more afraid of hospitals/lack of autonomy, or to feel pain? 

Here’s another list that might be supportive in your exploration:

Deciding whether to birth at home or in a hospital depends on your health, risk factors, preferences, and comfort level with medical vs. physiological birth settings. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

Home Birth Might Be Right If:

1. You Want a Physiological Birth – If you prefer minimal interventions, freedom of movement, and control over your birth experience, home is ideal.

2. You Trust Your Body & Process – If you believe birth is a natural event and feel comfortable handling discomfort without medical pain relief.

3. You Have a Supportive Birth Team – A skilled midwife or experienced birth attendant can monitor your safety.

4. You’re in Control of Preexisting Medical Conditions – If you’re in control of your conditions and your provider is comfortable with them, being at home is just as safe as being in a hospital where you’ll likely be over-managed by staff because of those conditions.

5. You Want Familiarity & Comfort – Laboring at home lets you control the environment, which can help labor progress naturally.

6. You Prioritize Autonomy – If you want to know that you can

7. A C-Section is Not an Option – Whether you don’t have the time to recover from one, your allergic to the drugs needed to comfortably have one, or you simply don’t want to be pressured into getting one – home is the best place to avoid a c-section.
*In my Austin-based experience, you have a 50/50 chance of getting surgery when you go to the hospital, whether you need it or not.

Hospital Birth Might Be Right If:

1. You Have Uncontrolled Medical Risk Factors – If you have conditions like high blood pressure, multiples, or a history of complications, medical monitoring may be a necessary precaution.

2. You Prefer or May Need Pain Relief – Hospitals offer epidurals and pain medications unavailable at home.

3. You’re More Comfortable in a Medical Setting – If you feel safer knowing doctors and equipment are nearby, a hospital may reduce stress.

4. Your Partner/Family Prefers Hospital Birth – If your support system feels more at ease in a hospital, their stress level can impact your experience. Alone, this shouldn’t necessarily be the reason for being in the hospital, but if your partner is not on board, it could make labor difficult.

Middle Ground: Birth Centers

If you want a physiological birth but aren’t comfortable at home, a birth center (often midwife-led) provides a balance—home-like settings with emergency transfer options.

Note: CNMs (nurse midwives) are generally more medical in their approach to care and birth centers tend to have a high transfer rate because of this. Look into transfer rates before choosing a birth center.

Key Questions to Ask Yourself:

• Do I trust my body and birth process enough to be at home?

• Do I have my health concerns under control?

• Do I have a strong birth team and does my provider support my birth plan?

• How far is the nearest hospital if I need to transfer?

• Will I feel safer at home, a birth center, or a hospital?

Your decision should be based on what makes you feel the safest, both physically and emotionally.

If you’re leaning toward a home birth, but don’t know where to start – schedule a call with us to review a birth plan. 

Xo,
Samantha