Imagine, a birth in a place of security, comfort and familiarity. Picture a mother confident and supported, reassured by a knowledgeable midwife and loving partner – the whole process being valued as sacred by all participants in an atmosphere of love. The fortunate newborn arriving in these circumstances of a natural childbirth would have one particular kind of experience.

Now imagine a birth taking place under bright fluorescent lights, the anxious mum-to-be surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar place of cold sterility. Unusual sights, sounds, smells and textures fill her senses in an environment of fear and emergency. Even without being pulled from the womb by Caesarean section, a child born here would have a very different start to life. Which of these two scenarios would you choose, for your own birth, or for that of your child?

The wonder of parenthood

Speaking from my own experience, having children brought an immense amount of meaning into my life. It was something I had always wanted, having arrived at the conviction that to pass on all that I possessed and all that I had learned to a new generation would be profound and joyful in the extreme. I was not disappointed. It all began with a natural childbirth in a water tub, in a yurt in the woods.

There are many people who have enjoyed powerful personal growth through parenthood, and who have experienced fulfilment, meaning and sense of purpose through building a family. Yet sadly, there are others for whom it is an accident, a misfortune, a burden, or a disaster.

Successful parenthood must be done consciously and must be planned for. It cannot be stumbled into. And by successful, I mean a desirable outcome for both children and parents. I mean an experience that is cherished and enjoyed and looked back on with joy. I mean providing the best possible head start for a successful life on earth. The best way to begin is with a natural childbirth in the home. I do not mean to imply that a life without children could not also be wonderful.

Conscious parenting and planning for a natural childbirth

The foundations of successful parenting can be laid well in advance of conception and pregnancy. I regret not paying more attention to a nutritious diet for both myself and my wife before we conceived our first son. These days I would alo strongly recommend avoiding exposure to Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF) in the form of wi-fi, Bluetooth, smart meters, mobile phones and baby monitors etc, in addition to nutritional considerations. Even the static fields of mains wiring have a proven harmful effect on human beings, foetuses and even eggs within infant ovaries! Listen to this lecture for the scientific evidence from Professor Martin Pall.

In making preparations for the birth of an infant it pays dividends for both parent and child if we carefully consider all of our lifestyle choices as an integrated whole, and plan around our circumstances and our values. Think ahead, zoom out and consider the big picture, ask yourself what is important. Arranging for a natural childbirth in the home environment is step one. This, of course, does not rule out a visit to the hospital, but only if necessary.

This important first step will also be the parents first encounter with the pressure exerted by the establishment to go to the hospital for the delivery. This can be a significant hurdle for many. It comes down to an issue of who is in control… You or some alleged authority? How much can you resist the appeal to authority and the implicit call to obey societal norms.

Whatever the location, parents-to-be have the power to deliberately create a...