Part 1 of 3.
Are you pregnant and considering a home birth? Or wondering how in the world someone would want to have their baby in their bedroom? This three part series will explain three different options for a birth place and the pros and cons of each.
Part 1 will start out with the hospital birth.
If you are someone who feels most comfortable knowing you have all the medical backup available in an instant if necessary, or can’t bare the thought of having a baby without pain medication, then a hospital birth is probably for you. Here you will learn the pros and cons of a hospital birth giving you the information you need to determine if a hospital birth is for you.
Hospitals can be a great place to give birth with most hospitals offering greater birthing options than ever before. There are several pros to birthing in a hospital:
- You can have your choice in provider. OB-GYNs can only deliver in hospitals. You can also choose to have a nurse midwife or a family physician as your care provider. There is always someone on call. So if your provider is unavailable, there will be someone there to take care of you.
- Most advanced technology with transducer to measure contractions and fetal monitoring to make sure things run smoothly.
- Access to pain relieve such as epidurals or narcotics.
- It is a safe environment for any unforeseen complications with medical backup there instantly when necessary.
- It is close to the Operating Room if a cesarean section becomes necessary. You will not need to be transferred mid delivery.
- You can still have a natural birth if discussed with your provider.
- Nurses will be present after the birth to help care for your baby so you can get some rest.
- Your doula can be present and guide you through your labor!
Although hospitals can be a great place to have your baby, they have restrictions on certain things which might limit your choices. Here are some cons to consider when choosing your birthing location:
- Hospitals will provide a standard of care, not individualized just to you.
- Hospitals can be impersonal in both the environment and the employees. You will not get to choose your nursing staff.
- There is a lack of privacy with continuous wellness/progression checks throughout labor and after delivery.
- You will have a limit of your fluid and food intake. Most hospitals only allow ice chips.
- Most hospitals only allow labor to go on for a certain amount of time. You may be rushed to progress and interventions such as Pitocin may be encouraged.
- May be limited on your choices on how your delivery may go. i.e. they may not allow water births, may not allow different delivery positions, or methods of pushing.
- They are bound to policies, protocols and procedures which means you will be too!
- Depending on your insurance plan, it can be very expensive with the average cost without insurance is $30,000.
A hospital birth can be a great experience. Just do your research and find the right hospital for you. Consider things like if they are in-network with your insurance, the amenities offered, their C-section rate, if they support breastfeeding, do they allow intermittent fetal monitoring, and which providers are allowed to deliver there. And always do research to find a provider that fits best with what you want for your birth experience.
This was part 1 of 3. Next week we will discuss the pros and cons of a birth center birth.
Contact me at apropperpathdoula.com or apropperpathdoula@gmail.com to discuss this further and how a doula can be beneficial to your hospital birth experience.
This is your birth. This is your baby. This is your journey. I will guide you along whichever path you choose to take.
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