More Black Mothers Are Having Their Babies at Home

By Sasha Manley

Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women.

But why?

In a 2020 report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the disparity is due to multiple factors, including “variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.” Researchers report that approximately 700 Black women die every year from childbirth-related issues, according to the International Confederation of Midwives in a March 2022 article.

Because of this, more Black women are deciding to opt out of delivering their babies in hospitals and are choosing instead to give birth at home.

In November, the CDC reported there was a 36 percent increase in Black home births from 2020 to 2021. During that time, home births among (non-Hispanic) Black women increased by 21 percent, from 0.68 percent to 0.82 percent of all births.

While the home birth trend rose during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, there was already a mountain of concerns over Black maternal health disparities. The virus only added another layer of challenges to traditional delivery settings, so mothers continued feeling safer at home.

Good reasons to give birth at home

Low-risk mothers — those without any preexisting conditions and healthy, are good candidates for home births, according to Sakina O’Uhuru, owner of Gentle Spirit Home Birth Midwifery Services in Charlotte, who has been providing maternal care for over 40 years, including over 25 years as a nurse midwife.

While the Black maternal mortality rate is alarming, some additional reasons are pushing more Black women to give birth at home:

Traumatic past experience

Home births give mothers a reassuring alternative to previous in-hospital healthcare abuse. Many women don’t want to chance another painful experience.

More choice and control

A considerable aspect of birthing at home is self-autonomy. Home births are reassuring that you are in the driver’s seat and have a voice. “They realize ‘this is my body, this is my birth, this is my baby, and I should have an ultimate say over the setting, what goes into my body, what goes into my baby’s body.’ O’Uhuru explained.

The comforts of home

Being in a familiar place can feel less intimidating. According to Holistic doula and owner of Sacred Beginnings Birthing Doula Services, I’man Boykin, doulas are responsible for setting a soothing tone for the mother. “During a homebirth, a doula is there to assist in creating a whole and sacred space for birth,” she said. Examples can include music, low lighting, aromatherapy, and more. Anything that would help the mother relax.

The village embrace is better, she said. “Home births also gave people the opportunity to give birth surrounded by their support network, including family, friends and a doula.”

Lower healthcare costs

The expense of having a child comes with its own set of concerns. It’s no secret traditional maternal healthcare comes with a considerable cost.

The Peterson KFF Tracker reports the average cost for vaginal delivery is $14,768 and $26,280 for a Caesarean operation. These numbers drop considerably with home birth. According to the National Library of Medicine, the average cost for a home birth is $4,650. This cost can vary from state to state.

Labor and delivery support

O’Uhuru said centering women is her focus. “I love helping women, people and couples have the most satisfying joy-filled, transformative, generationally labor birth experience. One that centers their needs and focuses on the couple as the most important team member.”

She explained that as a midwife, she monitors the pregnancy “just like a doctor would in a hospital.” She added, “You continue to monitor the progress of the pregnancy and labor. The midwife is the one who medically monitors the client.”

Boykin has assisted in seven home births. She describes her role with her clients as a relationship. “I see myself as a sister who supports my sisters, brothers and community in the space of birth as a birth worker,” she said.

Also, during home births, “doulas assist with things like timing contractions, suggesting various position changes, providing touch and massage, providing breathing techniques, assisting partners with various ways to empower,” she added.

Boykin specializes in other services such as labor sound healing, herbal therapy and placenta encapsulation (a process where the placenta is made into pills that can be taken during the postpartum period).

Mothers who have their babies at home share a special connection. There is a divine journey and connection among those that have their babies at home. O'Uhuru shared that her mother had her at home, and she had her son at a birthing center.

She also assisted in the births of two grandchildren. She said she feels connected to all five of her grandchildren. “Being a grandmother has put the icing on the cake. Being a woman, being a midwife,” she said with a smile.

Boykin also had natural births with her three children. She said, these experiences inspired her doula journey.

Sharing birth experiences

As more Black mothers are deciding to have their babies at home, more of them are sharing their decision to choose this option.

Content creator and stay-at-home mom Diyasha Jones had four home births. Her first was with a midwife; the rest were unassisted. Also known as “free births,” these deliveries have no medical professional, midwife or doctor present.

After finding out she was pregnant with her first child in 2017, Jones told her husband, “I’m not going to a hospital. We are going to do this thing the most natural way possible,” she said. He was highly supportive, and they continued doing more research together.

Jones’ extensive preparation and research the first time set the stage for the rest of her deliveries. “Everything we figured out was from the first birth. So we took that existing knowledge and carried it all the way through,” she said.

Now a mother to one boy and three girls, Jones confidently explained that having a choice over her body sealed the deal. “I want to set the tone for how I want my birthing experience to be,” she said. “So if I can have it in the comfort of my home, I am fine with that.”

Trust yourself and research

When Black women share their home birth stories with their communities, it becomes a domino effect of awareness and insight for other women.

“Let’s be radical together,” Jones said. “I always tell women, birth is such a sacred experience, and it’s one of those things that you don’t know how strong you are until you do it.”

It’s essential to do your research when deciding on a home birth. Boykin points out that being in touch with self is vital. “Electing to do a home birth is an extremely rewarding and eye-opening experience," she said. "However, it requires alignment within self and a true understanding of the capability of your mind, body and spirit.” P

Black Maternal Health Week is April 11–17. Founded by The Black Mamas Alliance, this annual campaign brings awareness for the Black maternal mother, experiences and birthing activism.

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