My wife and I delivered our baby in the car, outside the hospital, just the two of us. It was an amazing, beautiful, private experience - the three of us bonded more than I could've ever imagined. Hospitals and staff are impersonal, and quite often rude. They're not particularly sterile. My wife contracted H1N1 a week after the delivery, visiting her gynae in a private hospital for a checkup! Women have been giving birth by themselves since the beginning of time. Yes, women do die in childbirth due to complications, but if the scans beforehand indicate a low risk pregnancy, well, then, it's such a natural experience. Don't let people take away your personal power, just to enrich themselves. Be educated, and informed and then be brave. :)

I think its incredibly risky and stupid to choose not to be in a medical environment when giving birth to your child. Your first thought should be of the child and its common knowledge that even the few minutes it takes to get medical assistance could mean life or death. Glad it worked for you.

I am quite amazed about your bravery. THUBS UP 4 U GAL, YOU ROCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK

That was so inspiring! Wish I had the guts to do it myself. But it has made me determined to have as much control over the birth as I possibly can - in a hospital of course ;)

Personally, I would not have allowed (YES ALLOWED = The word means to permit) my wife to give birth at home, without a equipped ICU/standby paediatrician/doctors. But she has free reign to decide on normal/water/c-section birth ect.

Honestly I can't believe that so many people say you're brave! You're utterly irresponsible, and that with the life of your own baby, yes you were lucky he's fine, and for those that say that this is the way it was done many years ago, yes it was, but there was also a lot more kids and moms that died during childbirth, to revert back to "the natural" way is stupid, then you shouldn't drink antibiotics, not go for necessary surgery for cancer and have 8 kids just so that 4 will make it past the age of 20! Dr's aren't evil, they're very clever good people that is there to help you!

I was at a Medical Facility when i was giving birth to my daughter...and yet when i was actually giving birth, there was no medical staff nor the Gynae was around. My husband ran around the hospital and found a nurse...who came to my assistant, but baby was almost delivered by that time, the gynae appeared only to deliver the placenta, was traumatised by that time. The next time around with my son, i opted to go with a midwife who was always around and had a natural water birth practically un-assisted....could have given birth at home, but hubby was not to keen.

Just to ad - I am all for medical intervention when there are serious life threatening conditions and when there is risk to Mom and/or baby's health/life. but in a normal healthy pregnancy there is no reason in my most humble opinion why medical intervention is necessary.

We have been so conditioned and disempowered that we as women don't believe anymore that we can actually be in control of birthing. We live in "what if" scenarios and drive ourselves crazy thinking of all the bad things that "could' happen. I had 2 homebirths and if I am ever blessed again with another baby I'd do it again. It's safe, comfortable, easy, familiar and way less costly. Pregnancy is not a medical condition or an illness and we need to learn to be more in tune with our bodies as woman and trust in our ability to do this. Our bodies were designed to give birth ;) WTG Sally

Congratulations! Not brave, but also wise! One CAN actually be more sterile at home than in most - even private - hospitals! A very good friend of mine developed septicemia in a very well known private hospital (then called hospital disease). She fought for her life - By the Grace of God, she pulled through, but baby had gone home long before mom was safe from the so-called protective environment she gave birth in! In my opinion, a personal choice - and maybe even safer!

Congratualtions, I too had an unassisted (in the true sence as I was alone) home birth. Not planned my baby just decieded it was her turn. I am in south africa and approx 1hr from the nearest town and hospital. no ambulance service. My husband arrived to find us in the bathroom, then called our doctor before we went to hospital for a check up. All well. I have an amazing bond with our daughter and I accept it is not for everyone but sometimes the choice is not ours to make. many blessings x

You are an amazingly brave lady and your son is so lucky to have such a brave Mommy well done to both of you xx

Your son will enter the medical proffesion if he handled that - G-d Bless him!

I think a home birth is by far a better option when you have a trouble free pregnancy. I had my first 2 kids in hospital and had to put up with rules and regulations that doctors and nurses put in place. I didn't even have the honour of being the one to give my boys their first bath. At home I had my best friend with video camera in hand, my two older sons trodding around the house, my husband next to me, and a wonderful midwife Sue King who delivered our little boy. The only regret I had was not having my first two children at home as well. And I was also one of the lucky women who had very short labours with all 3 my kids, so I would definitely say "GO FOR IT!".

You are such an amazing person!!

I think homebirths are the most stupid, selfish thing a woman can do. We are privileged enough to live in a society with hospitals. Yes, in this particular instance, everything went well. And you were very lucky. However, what uneducated nonsense to say 'there are things that can go wrong during birth, there are very few that happen so fast and without some warning that one could not transfer to hospital". There are MANY things that can go wrong which require immediate medical intervention. I don't consider this 'brave' at all - just foolish and ignorant.

I am in awe. I really am. I have read both your articles on this very personal experience, and i have read all the comments made thus far. And even though there are people who've made negative comments about your decision, I still think what you did was amazing. Being pregnant with our second child now, I know in my heart that I would not be able to do what you did. I'm not going to spend time justifying my opinion or fighting against the negativity. What you did was right for *you and your baby* and your boy is just as gorgeous today as he was the day he was born!! Much love x 2.25!!

You are brave. I had a home birth but with a midwife. Much less stress than a hospital. Especially today where there are more germs in a hospital than at home.

WOW, you rock!!! If I knew all the facts before giving birth to my 2 sons, I would have loved to have a home birth, although I gave birth naturally, my 2nd time was much more painful but on so many levels better! It was late at night, minimum staff and I had a birthing plan!

Sally-Jane, I'd like to know what research says: "Home birth is surprisingly the birth option that research has proven time and again to be the safest for mom and baby, in the case of a low risk pregnancy." How is it safer than in a hospital?

i perdonally think that with the current situation of the hospital today that was the best for you and your son,just wish the younger, ladies would agree with you.

Well, Sally, I'm with you. It was delightful seeing your pictures and reading your story. I have had 5 home births after an initial Caesarean, one midwife-assisted hospital waterbirth. One of my homebirths was unassisted, and I do think it was my best ever! I felt completely in tune with my body and delivering my son was a walk in the park. We did have a midwife planned but she couldn't make it and a back-up arrived in time to do the checks and help me deliver the placenta. If I am blessed with another pregnancy, I will not hesitate to deliver once more at home, but will probably use my usual midwife, since an eighth delivery could carry risks. Every pregnancy so far was complication free, low risk and enjoyable. The only new risk I anticipate is that I am now "advanced" in age - I delivered my Last baby 3 months before I turned 40!

You are an amazing woman. You had all the necessary knowledge at hand, planned for any emergencies and went on to give birth as nature intended... peacefully and beautifully without unneccesary interventions.

Congrats Sally Jane! So glad it turned out great! I also had unassisted childbirth - now almost 2 years ago. Was inspired by another lady - read lots and since it was my third birth and the other 2 went perfect at home with the midwife, I decided to go for it. Unlike you I am not a midwife and we live in the gramadoelas (but could reach a hospital in less than 30 min). I had my husband who didn't stress for a moment and my daughter of 6 with me. The doula and my mother came just as she was on my chest. It was the most empowering experience of my life. Brought my husband and I much closer and I'm so glad I didn't miss it just cause other people doesn't believe it can be done safely. I have been a doula since the birth of my second child and I have dreamed about it since then. I'm positive that if a woman and her husband are on the same page and willing to take responsibility it is an option. People don't realize it is their own anciousness than causes problems...

To people posting *if* scenarios...if she'd had a penis she wouldn't have been pregnant in the first place, IF the baby'd died, this wouldn't be an article for you to get stupid on. So hows about instead of staying stuck on stupid, you enjoy it for the process it was for her as well as the outcome it produced? And Tina...who thinks she did it to be "brave".... You speak of stupid people like it's first hand knowledge. Is it? Cause your assumption of why she did it as 'bravery' sounds like one seriously stupid assumption to make. The article reads like she wanted to exercise control over the birthing process - HER birthing process. And the outcome was beautiful.

Yeah. All the backup emergency plans were readily available not so? Would you have done it - voluntarily in the middel of e.g. in the African bush - with no guaranteed backup plan in sight? Come off it supid lady: We do not live in the middle ages any more and do not need to be "brave" for no apparent reason. The people that envy you are just as stupid as you are.

Like whose parents and grandparents were not born in a hospital? Most were born at home before the 1950s. At least that is what my mom tells me. She was breach, but did not die, the midwife had to turn her, she bore 12 children. If given a choice, I believe all mom's children could have been born "at home" with midwife assistance, if needed.

I admire your courage and am delighted you had a good outcome. But you are also extremely fortunate, as things go wrong even in the easiest of pregnancies. I had an absolutely complication-free pregnancy, glowed with health, and had every intention of a natural birth (would've been my 2nd) - but had to have an emergency caesar because of chord around the neck. If I had tried to deliver at home, my son would have died. And you are right, quick ambulance response is by no means a given in SA!!!

@Conncerned Dad - would like to thing it wouldn't come to that - that you could talk it through and come to some arrangement. But the child is part of the man as well and he should be able to speak up. These feminists are all over us for not pulling our weight and "not taking responsibilty", but are happy to shove our opinion when it suits them.

Re: concerned Dad - of course he should have a say in it. it's his child too, after all. I'd like to think that any couple could talk these things through - and they should - but the power of veto should also exist. Childbirth isn't "just a woman" thing. it's a couple/family thing. Incidentally, both our kids were born in hospital, both SVD. However, with absolutly no complications forecast, if we hadn't have been there, my son, and in all likelihood, my wife would both probably be dead now. I recognise that as a midwife you understand the risks etc, but directing untrained individuals towards making this choise is a bit dangerous.

Hey Sally.. My daughter was born at home... midwife assisted delivery... I have read articles upon articles... and I still believe that births are a natural occurance and if you had a low risk pregnancy, then I don't see any reason why a woman cannot have this choice.... It is not irresponsible at all I can guarantee you that you and your baby will reap the benefit of this for years to come!

Wow! You amaze me and such braveness. I would never in my life have tried this ever. To scared.

Do you not think it is a bit irresponsible to do this? Yes, you had a great experience, but if something had gone wrong, you and your child could have been in danger. I wouldn't allow it if you were my wife.

Dear Sally-Jane You Rock! xx

You. my friend. Are amazing. X

I think its fantastic, and given the opportunity and the right circumstances, I would do the same.