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Birthing centers are one of the options hospitals, obstetricians, and midwives are providing women when the time of birth has come. It is considered when women has a low-risk pregnancy, want a more natural birth experience, and want in-house setting with access to a medical team. It is prudent to research the Birthing Centers of your area to find the one that suits you best. You may prefer a Birthing Center if you have been questioning the pros and cons of home birth, or you and your partner are trying to compromise on a birth location.
At Birthing Centers you may expect relaxed and warm settings as if in your own home, you will probably return home shortly after the birth if it is what you wish, and not only Care-givers include nurse-midwives, but also direct-entry midwives, or nurses that work with an obstetrician. It may be free-standing, on hospital grounds or inside a hospital building.
Birthing Centers vary extremely, so the best you can do is research carefully their philosophy of care; examine their mission statements and objectives, and also meet with the staff to find out the one that fits your expectations.
A respectful Birth Center should not provide Labor Induction procedures, no augmentation of labor with Pitocin (oxytocin), no electronic fetal monitoring except for Doppler ultrasound, any drugs for pain relief except local analgesia to suture tears in the perineum, a very few episiotomies, no operative deliveries (surgeries of any kind), and no surgical equipments, only oxygen equipment, and catheters for clearing a baby's airways, if necessary.
If the Birth Center is attached to a hospital, medical intervention is possible during their care (if necessary). If your choice is a Birth Center attached to a hospital, you need to know if it has its own staff or is staffed by hospital personnel. You may also want to know in which situations the Birthing Center would obtain the assistance of hospital personnel and how often it occurs.
A Birth Center would not be a right choice, if you are expecting twins, if you are diabetic, or If you have preeclampsia (pregnancy induced high blood pressure)
Here are some important considerations you may have in mind about a Birthing Center:
- What is the transfer rate of women from the center to the hospital (a rate of 7-12% is reasonable), and in what situations this may occur;
- In what situations would you induce labor with Pitocin (oxytocin) or breaking of the amniotic sac (amniotomy);
- Do they use electronic fetal monitoring? If so, in what situations and in what form: Doppler ultrasound, scalp clips or abdominal belts?
- Do they give intravenous glucose? If so, in what situations, and can it be refused?
- Do they use analgesic drugs?
- Do they offer epidural anesthesia?
- Is there a time limit on the second stage of labor?
- What percentage of women have episiotomies? (Less than 10% is normal)
- Do you ever provide assisted deliveries through forceps or suction? In what situations?
- Can I walk around during labor?
- Can I give birth on the floor if I wish?
- Do women ever give birth standing up?
- How do they help a woman who is having back labor?
- Can I take a bath or shower during labor?
- Can my other children be present, or any other relative?
- May I eat and drink during labor?
- Will there be a midwife with me all the time through out the entire first stage?
- Do they have a birth pool?
Women are naturally born to give birth, it is female’s nature. It is important to women, that labor should not be viewed as a medical condition, but as the consummation of an admirable and magnificent 9 month’s act of love and a way of perpetuate life. Birthing Centers are committed to Prenatal Care and education to encourage every woman to embrace their personal birth experiences.
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