When my wife (Kiera) first suggested birthing from home I was a little hesistant. Like most people I thought that hospitals were the safest place and what if something went wrong, we would be at home.
I started warming up to the idea when I found out a bit more about the midwives and they are actually trained professionals. So I decided to support Kiera in our first home birth.
The checkups throughout pregnancy were great, I did love the fact you had the same midwife, it makes you feel a lot more comfortable when your wife is in labour. In hospital they changed twice throughout Kiera's labour and kept popping in and out of the room, so I was left on my own with my wife during most of the labour.
When Kiera's labour started at home, I did get an adrenaline rush as things were getting very real. I admit I was quite nervous. Kiera laboured for a little while longer as she was fine through the contractions. Then we called Lisa (our doula).
Lisa was great coming to us at some ridiculous hour in the morning. I was calmer once Lisa arrived we both could look after kiera, and Lisa knew how to help Kiera through the contractions. I followed lisa's lead. Being a man I don't think I am not the best person to help a women through labour :).
The labour was quite easy (for me) then we started getting towards the big moment, so we called our midwife, who was also great coming out at some early morning hour.
From there I felt very comfortable, with 2 midwives (1 student midwife) and a doula. I just helped Kiera (who was now in a birth pool) through the contractions while the midwives took care of checking everything. Lisa and I played tag team getting things for kiera or sitting with her.
Then out popped our baby oliver. Just staring up at the world from under water, peaceful as anything. Kiera just sat back and cuddled our new baby with the biggest grin on her face. She made it all look rather easy. I got a cuddle with oliver soon after and we spent the rest of the day at home getting to know our new born.
It was a great experience. A bit scary a first (only because it was my first home birth), but in the end a peaceful birth, no monitors, midwives popping in and out, screaming women down the hall, surgeons, drugs etc.
Lisa and the midwifes then helped Kiera and cleaned up the house, made some food/tea etc. Then a few family members came up later with some food for the week (much better than hospital food).
It was the best way I could think of having a baby. And when you think about it the way it's been done for millennia until doctors started getting in the way.
In hospital they only seemed to interfere where as at home everything happened easily.
I would recommend a home birth to anyone, even if it is your first time and you are quite scared (Mum or Dad to be). You have trained medical personnel that you actually know and if something were to happen an ambulance is only a phone call away.