My first birth nearly led to my death due to uncontrollable bleeding. Completely not predictable. I had a textbook pregnancy with good prenatal care. I had no drugs or epidural, but as soon as I delivered the bleeding started and took emergency intervention to control and save my life. If I had been at home, I would have died.

I know most births don't go that way. I know most home births are wonderful experiences. But it only took one truly horrible experience to sell me on being in a hospital with emergency services available. I cannot imagine not having been around for the last 23 years of my son's life, not mention the births and lives of my subsequent two sons. Too, too, too much risk for me. The thought scares the dickens out of me actually.