10 Reasons I Will Never Give Birth in the Medical System Again

When it comes to birth, there is no one-size-fits-all path.

For some, medical intervention is necessary and lifesaving. For others, it’s entirely avoidable. What matters most is understanding your rights, being clear about your vision, and building a strong support circle of people—especially wise women—who trust you, and who listen.

The truth is this: your birth is yours. No one should dictate how, where, or when you bring your baby into the world. You and your baby are connected, deeply and intuitively. Birth unfolds in divine timing when it’s allowed to—without interference, without fear.

Unfortunately, that’s not the norm anymore. Birth has become increasingly medicalized, and in many cases, unsafe—not due to lack of medicine, but because of overuse. One in three women report birth trauma, most of it happening inside hospitals. (*)

If you’re reading this, you may have experienced birth trauma yourself. Maybe you’re preparing to grow your family and feeling conflicted. Maybe others have shared their traumatic stories with you, leaving you with fear or doubt. Or maybe, like me, you’re not afraid of birth—you’re skeptical of the system that’s hijacked it.

You trust birth. You know it can be beautiful. And you’re wondering: why doesn’t everyone else?

Our culture has taught us to fear birth. Home births are dismissed as risky or “trendy,” while hospitals are seen as the only safe place to bring life into the world. But birth—like death—is sacred. It belongs in the home, in safe and trusted hands, not behind fluorescent lights and cold policies.

Let me share my personal why. My first birth ended in a hospital transfer due to meconium in the waters. Now, I know that doesn’t always warrant a transfer. What followed was a series of unnecessary interventions that derailed the experience I had envisioned.

My second birth? It happened at home, in my living room, surrounded by loved ones. It was peaceful, powerful, and everything I hoped for. I’d do it a thousand times over.

I’m now walking the path to become a Traditional Birth Companion—supporting women no matter how or where they choose to give birth. With deep gratitude to my mentor, Billie Harrigan, here are 10 reasons I will never give birth in the medical system again:

1. 1 in 3 Women Experience Birth Trauma

These aren’t rare or isolated incidents. They’re systemic. 

When trauma happens at home, it’s usually due to a provider panicking, pushing timelines, or not honoring the birthing person’s needs. The medical system can make it difficult to stay in your power. I’ve witnessed this as a Doula—birth being stolen under the guise of empowerment.

If you want to remain in the driver’s seat, the best place to do that is at home.

2. 1 in 6 Women Are Abused During Birth

Yes—abused. Coerced, ignored, touched without consent.

I’ve seen procedures started without even a word to the birthing woman. I've seen vaginal checks, membrane sweeps, and water breakage happen without consent. I’ve seen injections, forced breastfeeding, and cord clampings—all without permission.

This would never happen in a respectful, home-based birth. At home, you decide who enters your space. You hold the power. You are the bull—not the one being ridden.

3. They Might Not Let Me Eat

This outdated hospital rule needs to go. Birth is like a marathon—and no one runs a marathon on an empty stomach.

Eating small snacks during early labor is vital for sustaining energy. There’s no evidence that eating during labor is harmful. Even in the rare case of an emergency cesarean, general anesthesia (which requires an empty stomach) is almost never used.

At home, I can nourish myself when and how I need to.

4. I Might Not Be Allowed More Than One Support Person

This one cuts deep. Birth is a community event. I want my partner, my doula, my mother—maybe even another wise woman who trusts birth like I do.

I don’t want to birth alone, masked, or surrounded by strangers in scrubs. I want to be with people who see me, who trust me, and who know my wishes before I even speak them.

5. They Might Ask Me (or My Partner) to Wear a Mask

In labor, breath is everything. It connects you to your body and your baby.

I will not compromise my ability to breathe deeply and freely for the sake of a policy that isn’t rooted in individualized care. And I shouldn’t have to choose between birth and comfort.

6. They Might Use Fear Tactics—Like the “Dead Baby Card”

Yes, emergencies can happen. But when fear is used as a tool to control, it disconnects us from our bodies. Cortisol spikes. Decision-making suffers. And trust crumbles.

Too often, interventions are done out of convenience—not necessity. I honor and respect medicine when it’s needed. But I also know the power of an uninterrupted physiological birth—and I choose that, every time.

7. I Might Not Be Allowed to Use Essential Oils

This may sound small, but it matters to me.

Essential oils are one of my tools—for energy, calm, nausea, grounding. I’ve used them at home, and I’ve seen them work time and time again. Hospitals often have scent-free policies, which means this resource would be taken from me.

At home, I use whatever tools work for me.

8. I Might Not Get a Room Right Away

Lack of staff. Overcrowding. Triage beds. Being told to walk the halls or wait in the parking lot unless I request drugs.

This is a harsh reality for many birthing people. No privacy, no space to move, no peace. Just bright lights, beeping monitors, and strangers coming and going.

At home, I move how I want. I moan, I breathe, I cry—without judgment. I am free.

9. I Might Be Forced Into a Cervical Check

I don’t need a stranger’s fingers in my body to know how close I am.

Cervical checks are not just uncomfortable—they can be harmful. They can stall labor, introduce infection, and rob a woman of her focus and safety.

As a companion, I can read labor progress through body language, vocal tones, emotional shifts, and even physical signs like the purple line on the back. Trust the process. Trust the mother.

10. They Might Inject Pitocin Without My Consent

I’ve seen it happen—post-birth Pitocin injections, cord clamping done prematurely, babies taken too soon, handled too roughly.

This isn’t care. It’s protocol. And it's done without asking.

At home, I birth my placenta in peace. My baby stays with me. The cord is left untouched until it turns white. There’s no rush, no surprise needles, no gloved hands stealing sacred moments.

Final Thoughts

These are just 10 of the many reasons I will never give birth in the medical system again.

Birth belongs to the woman giving it—not the provider overseeing it.

How I Can Support You

🌿 Learn about The Birth Like a Warrior Method™ – Divine Feminine Guidance:
https://www.warriorwellnessforlife.ca

🌿 Connect with me on Instagram:
@warriorwellnessforlife

Thanks for stopping by, Warrior.

I'm a Pregnancy & Postpartum Coach, Yoga Teacher, and the founder of Warrior Wellness—a sacred space for women to reconnect with themselves and their wombs, and birth their babies from a place of power.

When I’m not attending births or guiding women, you’ll find me walking in the forest, chasing my little ones, or sipping tea in stillness.

Citations:

(*)Garthus-Niegel, S., von Soest, T., Vollrath, M. E., & Eberhard-Gran, M. (2013). The impact of subjective birth experiences on post-traumatic stress symptoms: a longitudinal study. Archives of women's mental health, 16(1), 1-10.

Creedy, D. K., Shochet, I. M., & Horsfall, J. (2000). Childbirth and the development of acute trauma symptoms: incidence and contributing factors. Birth, 27(2), 104-111.

Schwab, W., Marth, C., & Bergant, A. M. (2012). Post-traumatic stress disorder post partum. Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 72(01), 56-63.

(**)Montmasson, H., Bertrand, P., Perrotin, F., & El-Hage, W. (2012). Predictors of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder in primiparous mothers. Journal de gynecologie, obstetrique et biologie de la reproduction, 41(6), 553-560.