Motivations for planned home birth: an exploratory descriptive study

Aim: apprehend the motivations that led the couples to choose the planned home birth. Method: this is an exploratory descriptive study, using a qualitative approach, with eight couples who opted for home birth, indicated by the professionals who provided the delivery assistance between 2014 and 2016. The data were collected between July and August of 2016, through interviews recorded, transcribed in full and submitted to content analysis. Results: three categories emerged: "Fear of loss of autonomy in the hospital environment", "Feeling of security in home birth" and "Support and appreciation of the partner". Conclusion: the option for this place of birth is linked to the desire of the woman for natural childbirth when a gestation was found without intercurrences; however, the fear of the hospital environment promoted the search for home birth planned with the support of the partner. Female empowerment proved to be fundamental for couples to debate and firm their choices .