Birth
A very general topic with so many choices to choose from. In this article we will discuss the top 3 places women choose to give birth: hospitals, birth centers, and home. When I was pregnant with my son I only had one option, or so I thought. I never questioned what would be the best place for me to birth. Of course I would give birth in a hospital. Whatever I needed they had. I had never heard of a doula and had no idea what a midwife did. Actually I thought midwives were women who helped mothers give birth way back when. With modern technology midwives were no longer needed. Needless to say I had a lot to learn.
It was not until my second pregnancy that my eyes were opened wide. While I was planning for a VBAC I kept running into unfriendly VBAC people. These included doctors, nurses, friends, family, etc. It didn’t matter I was pressing on. I am so thankful I did. Through this journey I met amazing doulas, amazing midwives, and had amazing friends give their support. Below is just a brief description of each. Click on the link for more detailed information.
HOMEBIRTH
Planned birth under the care of a midwife inside your home. A women is in her own territory in familiar settings and is in control of who is there and what is done. Childbirth does not necessarily need hospital paraphernalia, such as electronic fetal monitors, X-rays, gowns, masks, and so on. Birth does not create a sterile environment, so a sterile surgical field is not necessary for childbirth. Anything needed for the birth can be brought by the midwife, such as, oxygen, sterile wipes, Pitocin, and a fetal stethoscope. Home birth is the most private and woman-centered birth location available. Under the care of a trained midwife, planned home birth is actually safer than hospital birth.
BIRTH CENTER
A place in the community where a low-risk woman can choose to give birth. They are usually not owned or operated by hospitals but rather by a group of midwives and/or an organization of women. Generally, midwives handle the births at the center and give women greater freedom and birth options than do hospitals. Is this option as safe as a hospital? Evidence says a resounding “YES”. The midwives at the birth center usually consult with a doctor by phone to make a consultation when necessary. Birth centers are very safe because they are located close enough to hospitals to get there in a very short amount of time, usually under 30 minutes. In general a birth center allows a woman to give birth according to her preferences and not what has been termed “its just procedure”.
HOSPITAL
More than 90% of planned births in America occur in hospitals. Whether or not births are actually safer in a hospital is something that you must assess on a case by case basis. The biggest advantage of a hospital birth is that if anything goes seriously wrong, a doctor or surgeon is near. You still have choice to be attended by a midwife or an OB. A hospital will have more access to technology and greater access to drugs. Drugs and technology are considered part of the routine at most hospitals. Some women may even feel pressured to use them.
*Excerpts from this page were taken from Creating Your Birth Plan: The Definitive Guide to a Safe and Empowering Birth. by: Mardsen Wagner, M.D., M.S.
