"I was able to fully experience a physiological birth in my control"

"For my fourth baby, something inside of me just woke up and said, 'I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to have these things done to my body, that I really don't think my body needs.'

And I was very right—I didn't need any of those interventions, any of those times."

– Isabel

Dear Reader,

When I was pregnant for the first time, the mainstream birth stories I’d heard were filled with drama and fear, often ending with, “It was so scary, but it was all worth it.”

I started Googling and reading people’s home birth stories online, and I found that their stories were nothing like the ones I’d heard before.

These stories were about the journey of making it through to meet their baby. They talked about the discovery of their own strength, the discovery of their baby, and how the experience changed the way they saw themselves.

Some of our Manhattan Birth families have graciously offered to share their stories—much like the ones I read many years ago—about transitioning from hospital birth to home birth, and what that meant for them, their babies, and their lives.

"When I got pregnant with my daughter, I knew I wanted to be very thoughtful about who was in the room during her birth.

Somewhat serendipitously, I was introduced to Sarah and Tanya. I did a lot of research, and felt called and compelled to have a home birth. It was honestly the best decision that I have ever made.

Hospitals are a really great and valuable tool, but when you’re pregnant, you’re not sick. To be able to welcome your child at home, and be in your space, made so much more of a difference than I ever thought possible."

— Margaret

Read more hospital-to-homebirth stories at manhattanbirth.com.