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I saw an OB group when I had LO, and I'm seeing midwives this time (though I'm delivering in the hospital.) I do get some questions from people in my hometown about my choices, but I just don't really pay attention to it. They're the same kind of questions from the same people that questioned my choices when LO was a baby, so maybe I'm just used to not worrying about it. Should anyone really press the issue, I just say, "We're making decisions that work for our family," and leave it at that.

I just didn't really talk about it. There have been a TON of homebirths in my family, which is not a birth situation I'm comfortable with. So we avoided the subject as much as possible; my choice wasn't right for my cousins and their choices weren't right for me.

If you've made the decision that is best for you and your family, I'd leave it at that.

FWIW, my OB practice includes 5 midwives who I saw regularly, and a midwife attended my hospital birth because she happened to be the medical person on call the night I delivered.

I am using a midwife group and birth center and honestly I just avoid the topic with people I think won't be supportive. If it still comes up I sort of highlight the parts that I know they are worried about and how that issue is covered. For example, our midwives have ob back ups and they check in with them twice for each mother's pregnancy and again if issues arise. The birth center is attached to a hospital with a high level nicu and midwives are likely to transfer care quickly and well before am issue of emergent whereas you hear stories about people's ob making a decision and wheeling then straight into the or. Most of those decisions aren't actually made in a split second they often feel like it to the parents though so the stories sound extra scary (I know this isn't always the case but in many cases the nurses and doctor are watching a potential issue for 30+ minutes before making the call as opposed to the thirty seconds it can feel like to a nervous patient.)

So basically, if the person's opinion is important I try to show them that we covered our bases and didn't make the decision lightly. If it doesn't matter I don't even bring it up.

@Circusbee: I think that, at least in my case, the people that think it's weird have that opinion because they just don't know much about it. It's actually quite difficult to practice as a midwife in my home state, and therefore it's just not an option for most people. Some people literally have no clue what modern midwifery looks like.

I am not currently pregnant, but I saw a midwifery practice and had planned* for a birth center birth. I got some negative/concerned comments from some family members, but it was definitely a case of not being educated. We took time to explain our reasons and all of the benefits, and also addressed concerns. the most important thing is that YOU are happy with your decision... nobody else has to live with your decision! FWIW, I loved the care provided by the midwives... I always felt like so much more than just another patient!

*I ended up giving birth at the hospital due to high blood pressure at the end of my pregnancy, with the midwives attending.

@Circusbee: Consider it practice for parenthood... Everyone has an opinion, and there are people who will question the decisions you make. My policy is not to engage people unnecessarily, and to show confidence in my decisions regardless of how I am feeling in that moment.

You can always respond to a negative comment with something final, such as, "We don't expect everyone to agree with us, but this is the decision we have made for our family." Hopefully the supportive comments will outweigh the rest!