"Honey...I was thinking..."
That's how it all starts. Your wife, glowing in the aura of pregnancy, gently asks you the question you never expected to hear.
"...maybe we should have this baby at home."
If this happens then-no matter what kind of guy you are-I hope you wisely keep your mouth shut and hold on to a docile, sunny face that says, "Honey-I-love-you-more-now-than-ever-before."
If you have to say anything then repeat the following phrase: "Gee, honey, I don't know. Please tell me more about what you're thinking."
This will allow your mind to race...like mine did.
"Is she out of her mind? Who does she think we are...the Waltons? What if something goes wrong? It's so dangerous. Isn't this why we have hospitals? What about the mess? What about our kids? What about the noise? What will our neighbors think? Where does she get this stuff? No more Girls' Night Out. Is she serious?"
Yes, she was serious. Just a few months later, my wonderful wife gave birth to our daughter, Mirabel, at home with the help of our doula (pronounced DOO-lah, a childbearing mentor) and two midwives (one was finishing her training and the other was the veteran). It was beautiful and, as my oldest daughter put it, homebirth seemed more natural than a hospital birth.