Women who choose to have a home birth give all sorts of reasons for their decision.
Some simply know in their heart of hearts that this is where their baby should be born; others feel that they will be more relaxed in their own home; some cherish the privacy which they can have at home and the freedom to do as they choose; some find hospitals frightening and fear that they are likely to have a lot of interventions if they have their babies there.
If your partner is going to support you during labour, or you have asked someone else to be with you, it is essential that they are happy with your choice of a home birth.
Someone who is frightened of the environment in which you have decided to labour, either because it's too clinical or because it's not clinical enough, will almost certainly not be able to give you the reassurance and support which you need.
Talking through where you want your baby to be born and allowing your chosen labour supporter to gather his own information will often result in a mutually acceptable decision.
Making the decision to have a home birth can sometimes be difficult because of resistance from health professionals.
Although attitudes towards home birth are changing amongst health professionals, some GPs and midwives still feel insecure when it comes to caring for a woman who wants to have her baby at home.
After all, health professionals do most of their training in hospitals.
Your doctor may explain to you that he or she feels unable to care for you if you want a home birth, but will be happy to refer you to a doctor or midwife who can.