Has anyone given birth at home or in some other intimate setting rather than the hospital? I read a few interesting accounts on the net written by women who have given birth without any assistance at all - by choice! What do you all think about it?

Yikes! I guess it's personal preference. Personally, I intend to be in a hospital with drugs. There are registered mid-wives available where I live now...maybe you want to talk it over with them. I would think you might want someone with you in case of complications.

Having twins myself i fully intend on being at the hospital. Hopefully i can deliver them both normally but if theres a problem i want to already be there at the hospital where i can be in the operating room in a matter of minutes. My number one concern is having 2 healthy babies. And frankily i dont care how it gets done.
Even if i was only expecting one baby i would prefer to be in the hospital. Any problem there can be dealt with immediately. No time wasted getting to a hospital. If i or the baby need help its right there. its also a sterile enviroment. i dont have to worry about the chance of infection nearly as much. and lets not forget the drugs. I fully intend on taking all the pain meds they will offer me. Im not big on pain. I say bring on the hospital birth.

I perfer the hospital. I just feel safer there.

WELL I PERSONALLY DIDN'T DELIVER AT HOME NOT THAT I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO BUT THERE ARE NO MIDWIVES THAT WILL DELIVER AT HOME WHERE I LIVE. AND SINCE I DELIVERED MY FIRST 5 WEEKS EARLY I WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE END ANYWAY. BUT MY MOM HAD MY LIL SISTER AND BROTHER AT HOME WITH A MIDWIFE(I WAS BORN IN THE HOSPITAL). SHE LOVED THE EXPERIENCE. IT WAS MORE COMFORTABLE FOR HER TO BE AT HOME WITH ALL AND I MEAN ALL HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS THERE GIVEING HER SUPPORT.(NOT EVERYONE WAS IN THE ROOM WHILE SHE WAS ACTUALLY GIVING BIRTH). I GUESS IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. GOOD LUCK