Less medical interference at home, if for example I am not dilating quick enough for the MW/Doctor in hospital, its more likely they will want to resort to some sort of speeding up to get LO out. I would rather, unless I am totally exhusted (by which point I figure I'd be in hospital anyways) I'd rather let LO take their own time to get here.
No use of medical tools like forceps and ventouse at home as MW's are trained to deal with babies who need a bit of moving etc. And just about every trick in the book that in hospital they would use tools for etc.
I'm at home, my own things around me, a place I am comfortable in. I can walk around, go outside, have a bath/shower, sleep, watch TV, cook, do whatever during the entire course of labour. I think I would feel much more relaxed at home than in a hospital so this for me is a major point in favour of being at home. Also helps toward being relaxed about labour IMO.
My OH can remain with me the entire time. No having to go home overnight and leaving me on a ward till the morning etc. No being abandoned by a hospital MW who has possibly 4 other women in labour to deal with at the same time etc.
I'm opting for a waterbirth if possible as I am told its a *great* pain relief. Supports your body weight and bump and you can get in and out as you please. And again, as I don't want medical pain relief (unless as an absolute last resort if ending up in hospital) that appeals. In hospital, there may be one birthing pool but its first come first served, so might not get near it. At home, its all mine. I may not actually give birth in it, but I plan to use it as much as I need it.
I've yet to read a terrible home birth story. Most seem to have been really positive experiences for the parents, even the not great stories still read much better than the good hospital ones IMO. Any women that ended up in hospital still only had good things to say about the homebirth part until then. Those that end up in hospital is a small percentage, all things considered.
My reading of hospital births is so varied, it goes from good to absolutely terrifying. Most of the time I am put off from even the good ones simply because they use medical intervention or speed things up still. And most women seem to comment about a number of things, regardless of how the birth went
a) OH having to go home overnight and being left in a room on their own or on a ward in early/mid labour and being frightenend/worried etc
b) MW's busy and may change shifts so continuity of care seems varied, depending on who you get. Luck of the draw really. I have heard too many times a woman is left alone and unsure of what is happening to her, as MW has bogged off to attend to another labouring Mum.
I like the fact it will be my MW who has been with me through my pregnancy and another one (I have met the other community MW's and they are lovely). Unless my MW is already on another call, but then I still get two MW's. One from whenever I feel I need her in labour till after LO is born and the other when I reach a certain point in dilation who then comes out and again stays till after LO is here. My MW is then on call to help me with any problems with BF'ing etc if I need it.
c) It becomes a medical procedure over a natural one, as soon as you are in those doors (women don't say this, but you can read it in how they write what happens, its done to a time frame etc)
d) Erm I'm sure there are more but I don't want you to think I am trying to clobber you into a homebirth
I'm not, I'm just trying to point out the things I see and why I want one over a hospital birth, even on the days when I worry and things niggle me, why it still wins out.
You have to do what you feel comfortable with. You can book at homebirth at 36 weeks so time yet to talk it over in detail with your MW and discuss any concerns and hear what she has to say. If you really feel you'd be better off in a hospital then go for it. My MW said she thought it was at least worth trying for a homebirth and starting at home, see how it goes and if I then wanted to transfer she would do so. No pressure. I'll still be booked in at the hospital so they would have my notes etc.
so i dont really know if im supposed to prepare anything!
- thats what i get for being super-organised and packing up the entire flat only for the move to fall through 
