Before she had her first child Amber Hunt knew that she'd chose to give birth at home. "I never knew any home birthers. I just knew that it would be that way," she recalls.

"I've learned that I can give birth anywhere and have a sacred experience," Amber said. But, she prefers to give birth at home and she gives it rave reviews. "It was better than what I expected; home birth is the best," she said.

Prior to the births she sought obstetric care. Amber chose to labor without drugs for her births. She relied on her experience with yoga, Reiki (energetic healing), and Shamanic work (spirit body healing), to help her move through the pain. "I felt myself supported by the ancient strength of women," she recalls.

Her first two children were born into a soft-sided hot tub at home, which Amber has dubbed "Dory," - a reference to a fish from the animated movie "Finding Nemo."

Both times the tub was situated in her massage room, a space she considers sacred. For the second birth her husband, Ryan, hooked up an additional hot water heater to ensure that there was adequate warm water when the time arose.

For her home births, Amber and Ryan chose to have themselves and the midwife present during the birth.

Other family members were in the home while she was in labor, but not in the birthing room.

During the birth, Amber felt free to assume whatever labor position she felt comfortable with. And, she had soup, fruit juice and tea to help keep her strength up during labor.

All the children were born directly into water and then cradled by their mother. "The most important thing you can do is be with the baby after birth," she said.

Following birth, she enjoyed sleeping in her own bed and staying in her home as long as she wanted to without leaving. For her, the home environment helped her relax and the tub, she feels, is her key to a smooth and controlled birth. "I'm an advocate of having birth as you want it; it's about you: your wants and needs," she said.

Amber said that she recommends home birth to anyone and everyone. Most importantly, women should realize that they have options and should choose whatever it is that makes them comfortable.

Holly Johnson with daughter Athena.

A trip to Ashland, Wisc., afforded Holly Johnson's first glimpse into the practice of home birth. Pregnant for the first time, Holly was visiting friends in Ashland when her friend Amy,a doula, provided her with information on home birth.

Doulas provide emotional and physical support to laboring women through things like massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, etc. And, Amy had books and videos on home birth to share with Holly.

Holly said that she was "so intrigued and impressed with the research" regarding home birth, and continued to look into it.

Reading Ina May Gaskin's book "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth," gave Holly the confidence boost she needed to commit to a home birth. "It really made me excited," she said.

Now she and her partner, Cyrus, have a smiley 10-month old baby, Athena, to show for the experience.

"The whole point in home birth is to be comfortable and confident in your body," Holly said.

Holly's midwife: Joy, of St. Cloud, assisted with the birth. Holly started prenatal care with an obstetrician and explored her options for delivery. She met Joy late into her second trimester of pregnancy.

Holly decided to give birth in her childhood bedroom - located in her mother's Jenkins home. She purposefully spent time in the room during her pregnancy. She had scents and candles in the room along with music playing. "It's my sacred space," she said. "When (Athena) gets older, she can say 'I was born right here.'"

Her friend, Amy, came from Ashland and stayed with Holly before, during and after the birth.

And, Holly found Joy to be immensely helpful - offering suggestions and motivating words during her labor. "Her words were like gold; I trusted her so much," Holly recalls. "It was so magical."

After 12 hours of labor, Athena was born on Dec. 19.

Holly said that she doesn't feel that there was any downside to home birth, however she stresses the importance of post-partum care at home. "In order for it to be really successful you have to have enough support," she said.

Tasha-Rose Mirick with Zoe and Grace

Although Tasha-Rose Mirick, of Backus, sought prenatal care, she chose to give birth to her second daughter, Zoe, at home, unassisted.

She's a home-birth advocate for healthy women.

"I'm not going to be a stickler about not seeking medical help when needed," she said. However, she supports less medical intervention in the birth process.

"The way I birth and the way I raise my children is serving a greater purpose. The collective mindset will change; we won't be so afraid of nature. I want to give children a peaceful birth," she said.

Zoe, now nearly 2 years old, was born at home. The birth was unassisted: no midwife, no doctor and 12 days after her projected delivery date.

Her husband, Rob, and daughter Grace (now 5) were both home. Tasha is a strong supporter of "the concept that giving birth in a family environment is a good thing."

In fact, Zoe was born into Rob's hands.

The day of Zoe's birth Mirick was in labor early in the morning, so Grace was in bed; however, Rob was there the entire time.

In Zoe's birth story, Tasha describes Zoe's birth as an "intimate and loving experience."

She was happy to give birth at home without Pitocin - a drug administered in hospital delivery rooms to induce labor.

"Pregnant women avoid caffeine, cough syrup and alcohol and then they dope you up with drugs right before you give birth," Mirick said.

Mirick preferred letting Zoe's birth take its natural course.

Tasha wasn't pleased with Grace's birth in a hospital. At the time Tasha was 22 and it was her first birth experience. She felt bullied into receiving Pitocin and an epidural - which where not specified in the birth plan she developed ahead of time. "I wish I could give (her) birth back to her," Tasha said.

Now, Tasha is training to be able to help other women with home births.

She's pursuing one of the oldest women's professions: midwifery. She is already a doula - providing emotional and physical support to laboring women - and she's studying to be a midwife.