Thanks for your comments. I agree that home birth is not categorically better than having your baby at the hospital. My son was born at CPMC, and since he came earlier than expected, I can only feel gratitude that we got to the hospital in time. We had hired a doula who claimed she had a lot of experience. When I went into labor, she told my husband that her "gut" and "experience" said it was a false alarm. She went out of town, and five hours later we were speeding to the hospital, counting the stoplights. At CPMC the staff wheeled me right up, saving the paperwork for later since I was so far along. I felt very supported by all the nurses, and over the three days my husband and I felt that our room was a little haven for the start of our family. I had hired the doula as an advocate for a more natural childbirth, and in this case, she did little beyond claiming part of her fees. So I can say unequivocally that hospital birthing was the right thing for us.