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 2 is all about the birth center birth experience.
After taking a hospital tour, you can’t imagine feeling comfortable enough to bring your baby into this world in such a clinical atmosphere. On the other hand, having a baby at home just isn’t what you and your partner envision, then a birth center birth is the best of both worlds. You have a cozy environment with professional medical staff making a birth center the best option for a lot of parents. Here you will learn the pros and cons of a birthing center giving you the information you need to determine if a birth center birth is for you.
Birthing centers are becoming more and more popular here in the US with many parents seeking a less clinical environment for their births. Here are some pros of birthing in a birth center.
- You have a cozy environment with a double or queen size bed, tubs, low lighting, and other options you can choose to make your birthing room as comfortable as possible. Rooms are always private unlike some hospitals.
- A very low tech approach with intermittent handheld fetal monitoring and no IV fluids.
- Freedom to move around the room to be in any position you like for both labor and delivery.
- Freedom to eat and drink whatever you would like during labor.
- Less interventions to move along the progress of labor.
- When the baby is born, everything is done in the birthing room. The baby will not be taking away for any checkups or procedures (unless emergency).
- Short stay with most parents and baby leaving about 8 hours after birth.
- Cheaper than a typical hospital birth with an average cost of $3,500.
- Some are attached to hospitals so parents can feel secure incase there is an emergency.
- Reduced risk of C-Section with only about 6% of birth center births needing to transfer for a C-Section.
Birth centers are a great choice for many parents, but there are some cons and reasons why a birth center birth may not be for you.
- Not your home. You can never be as comfortable as you are in your own home space.
- Finding a birth center near you can be difficult as they are still not as popular in the US.
- Some insurance companies will not cover a birthing center so you would have to pay out of pocket.
- Some centers may be further away from a hospital leaving a long transfer time in emergencies occur.
- Birth centers only handle low risk pregnancies. You will be transferred to a hospital if you have hypertension, gestational diabetes, multiples, etc.
- If transfer occurs, you may not be familiar with your surroundings or medical staff.
For someone with a low-risk pregnancy wanting a more natural birth, a birth center birth can be an excellent choice. More and more centers are opening all around the US showing they are gaining in popularity. As always, do research to find a provider or birthing center that fits best with what you want for your birth experience.
This was part 2 of 3. Last week we discussed a hospital birth. Next week we will discuss the pros and cons of a home birth.
Contact me at apropperpathdoula.com or apropperpathdoula@gmail.com to discuss this further and how a doula can be beneficial to your birth center 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.
Click here to sign up for a free consultation.
Servicing Saint Lucie County, Martin County, Indian River County, and Palm Beach County!