Back Porch of a Serene, Peaceful BirthCenter
When I first found out I was pregnant with my first child, there was no question that I would give birth at the hospital. In all honesty, the thought of having my child outside a hospital environment never crossed my mind or was it even discussed with my husband. Being from a medical family with two MDs and a nurse in the immediate family sealed the deal.
After informally polling a dozen or so women about their recent birth experience to determine which hospital was “best”, however I inadvertently discovered that literally every single woman I chatted with about her baby’s hospital birth had a terrible experience.
The full reality of the situation was staring me clearly in the face. My chance of experiencing a dream birth at a hospital was basically slim to none.
At that point, I didn’t know what I was looking for but I knew I didn’t want to have my baby at the hospital and I didn’t want a homebirth either.
Birthing outside the hospital was rare even back in the late 1990′s and “googling” to find out info was not yet in vogue either, so I had to find information out the old fashioned way – by asking around! After a number of weeks, I finally found someone who suggested that I try to find a birthcenter.
Believe it or not, I had never heard of a freestanding birthcenter before but after visiting one, I realized that the idea really meshed well with the type of birth I was seeking.
I ended up delivering all three of my children at a freestanding birthcenter. This type of birthcenter is not affiliated with any particular hospital and generally does not have any doctors on staff. It offers state of the art care with nurse and licensed midwives during delivery but without interference or restrictive policies that require you to deliver on your back or within a certain number of hours else they wheel you in for a C-section.
Birthcenters offer a much more individually tailored approach to birth with the benefits of hospital birth and the freedom of a homebirth all wrapped into one.
Does this approach to birth appeal to you? If so, here are 21 reasons why you might consider having your baby at a birthcenter too!
#1: You want to have a homebirth, but don’t want to freak out your family too much.
Birthcenters are a good choice if you don’t have a husband, parents, or in-laws on board with the whole out of the hospital birth thing. A birthcenter is a happy medium that everyone can agree to.
#2: You want to have a homebirth, but would prefer to have at least some medical equipment on hand as labor/delivery is usually quite unpredictable.
This reason played a big factor for me in choosing a birthcenter. I wanted the freedom of a homebirth but felt more comfortable in a location where the equipment was ready to go or a quick transfer to the hospital could occur (freestanding birth centers are frequently located in close proximity to a hospital) in case something unpredictable happened.
And, let’s face it. Birth is one of the most unpredictable experiences a woman can ever have!
#3: You want to avoid an epidural and have a natural birth.
The truth is, hospitals give lip service to natural birth. They make a lot more money with a labor/delivery that involves an intervention of some sort. A favorite tactic I’ve heard used to encourage epidurals is for the nurse to sweetly say when the woman is at her most painful contractions, “Don’t you want some medication for that, honey? You’ll feel a whole lot better right away!”.
Asking you if you want medication at the height of labor and when you are emotionally at your most vulnerable is a low blow. Most women would say “YES, GIVE ME DRUGS!”. I know I would have!
At a birthcenter, you don’t get those kind of tactics. The nurses work through the contractions with you and there are many pieces of equipment like a birthing ball or birthing tub to assist you and relieve pain.
If you desire the amazing and empowering experience of a natural birth, your chances of success at a birthcenter are a lot more favorable!
#4: You do not want a continuous fetal monitoring device used on you during labor.
Who wants an ultrasound device strapped to her belly during labor? Talk about uncomfortable. Not to mention that the safety of such a device is highly questionable. I never had an ultrasound with any of my pregnancies and I sure didn’t want one attached to my body during labor.
When birthing at a hospital, you frequently don’t even have a choice about continuous electronic fetal monitoring. If you want to have a midwife check the baby’s vitals only between contractions as it should be, then go to a birthcenter.
#5: You do not want to be induced.
Induction with pitocin greatly increases a woman’s chances of a C-section. It also increases the odds of needing an epidural as the contractions from inducing labor progress are much stronger and more painful than natural contractions.
Hospitals are very pitocin happy. If a woman is not progressing fast enough or her labor has stalled at 6-7 cm, a little shot of pitocin is encouraged. Stay away and birth in a birthcenter if you want to avoid this.
#6: You subscribe to the philosophy that hospitals are for sick people, not mothers giving birth.
Hospitals are indeed for sick people. No surprise then that the birth process at the hospital is treated as a clinical event and not the joyous, natural occasion it truly is.
#7: You don’t want your water to be forcibly broken.
Hospitals just love to bust a laboring woman’s water. Why? It speeds things up considerably. Unfortunately, it also increase the pain of contractions significantly. Think “baby’s head ramming your dilated cervix” or “baby’s head cushioned by a bag of water ramming your dilated cervix”. Which would be more painful do you think?
When contractions become more painful, a woman is more likely to request or give in to pressure from the attendant nurse for an epidural.
As a woman who has labored all the way to 10cm with her bag of waters intact, I can tell you that it is MUCH more comfortable this way. I actually have picture of myself talking on the phone to my Mom with a cup of tea in my hand while laboring, completely unmedicated, at 9cm.
Trust me, you don’t want some intervention happy nurse messing with your bag of waters just so he/she can go to lunch break on time!
#8: You want a more homey and less sterile environment.
The picture above is the birthcenter where I delivered my third child. Notice the rocking chairs on the wrap around porch, the lovely lake at the back and the overall serene environment. Isn’t this better than walking the cold, sterile halls of the hospital during labor if they even let you walk around at all?
Calm is good during birth. Things go quicker and tend to have better outcomes when you are peaceful and calm.
#9: You hate the smell of hospitals.
I hate the smell of disinfectant and all the other chemical smells that seem to exist permanently inside a hospital. Your sense of smell is heightened significantly during pregnancy too – at least mine was. The smell of a hospital would have made me ill during delivery which is another reason I chose to stay away.
#10: You want to avoid a C-section.
Birth in a hospital and your chances of C-section are somewhere between 25-40% depending on the facility. Deliver in a birthcenter and your chances of a C-section are less than 5%. ‘Nuff said.
#11: You want to avoid a forceps delivery.
Delivery by forceps can cause injury to your newborn. It is also the result of draconian procedures at many hospitals that require a woman to deliver on her back. Go to a birthcenter for more flexible policies that avoid use of a dangerous instrument like a forceps and midwives who are skilled at delivering babies who seem to get “stuck”.
#12: You want to birth in an upright position.
I found birthing in an upright position to be optimal for me. It allows gravity to work in your favor and it also involves less stress on your baby because pushing on your back can briefly cut off the baby’s blood supply.
Delivering in an upright or squat position is unthinkable in most hospitals. Can you see a doctor or nurse down on the floor underneath you ready to catch the baby in a hospital? Go to a birthcenter where midwives are more flexible and know how to handle deliveries from different positions.
#13: You want a water birth.
I myself didn’t want a water birth, but many ladies do. Birthcenters provide this service and you get the bonus of being able to labor in the tub too which relieves pain significantly.
#14: You want to eat and drink during labor.
I liked to eat and drink during my labor. This is a no-no at the hospital because eating before major surgery like a C-section could cause complications. Since the chance of C-section is so high at hospitals, many make it easy on themselves by just forbidding eating and drinking during labor.
#15: You don’t want the umbilical cord cut until it stops pulsing.
After the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord should ideally not be cut until it stops pulsing. This allows all the blood in the cord to go to your baby and provide extra oxygen. A baby whose cord is cut too soon can be deprived of oxygen and even possibly brain damaged.
If you want to learn more about why it is so important not to cut the cord too soon as is the practice in many hospitals especially when the parents plan to bank some of the newborn’s stem cells, please refer to my post A Warning: Fetal Cord Blood Banking.
#16: You have decided not to vaccinate your child.
Several folks I know who wanted no vaccines for their newborn baby had the child accidentally jabbed with the Hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth despite their wishes being clearly outlined on their chart or in their birthing plan. Such a mistake can affect your child’s health for life!
If you are no-vax, don’t deliver in the hospital. This type of “mistake” is more common than you might think.
#17: You plan to exclusively breastfeed your child.
Hospitals love to shove a bottle of sugar water in a newborn’s mouth even if the parents have previously indicated objections to the practice. This mistake which is fairly common, can cause nipple confusion and reduce the chances of successful latching/breastfeeding.
You don’t want anything messing with your chances of a successful nursing relationship with your newborn. Your chances of successful breastfeeding are better at a birthcenter where bottles of sugar water and pacifiers don’t exist and supplementation with formula is not pushed.
#18: You intend to skip the newborn Vitamin K shot.
The vitamin K shot is synthetic vitamin K and is an unnecessary intervention and pain experience for your baby. It also contains a number of dangerous ingredients and should be avoided if at all possible. If you wish to skip it, best to stay away from the intervention happy delivery teams at the hospital.
#19: You want to actually get some rest after the baby is born.
Hospital procedures require nurses to check you and your baby every few hours to make sure everything is “ok”. This requires poking and prodding even when you are obviously sleeping! If you want to get some decent rest after your baby is born, go to a birthcenter where they won’t be bothering you or your baby unless it is truly necessary.
#20: You intend to skip the ointment that is typically applied to a newborn’s eyes.
There is absolutely no need for the eye ointment hospitals squirt in all newborn’s eyes. This stuff blurs their vision and interferes with the bonding process. I remember when my children were just born, I held them very close to my face and spoke softly to them and they were alert and their eyes definitely focused on my face. A newborn can see just fine from 6 or so inches away unless you squirt some useless ointment in their eyes!
If you child develops some sort of eye infection within a few days after the birth (which the eye ointment is supposed to prevent), simply drip a drop or two of breastmilk colostrum in each eye and it will clear up almost immediately.
#21: You intend to skip the newborn PKU heel prick test.
Before a newborn leaves the hospital, he/she is pricked in the heel to draw blood to test for the genetic disorder Phenylketonuria. This disorder only affects 1 in every 10,000-15,000 babies. If you wish to spare your child the pain of this, in my view, extremely unnecesary test, then have your baby at a birthcenter.
I made the mistake with my first child of going to the pediatrician 2 days after he was born at a birth center to get this test. Because I was so healthy and his blood so full of natural vitamin K because I drank nettle tea in the final weeks before giving birth, his blood clotted too quickly for the test to “take”. The doctor and nurses stabbed his heel 3 times to draw blood with the test failing each time due to his blood clotting so fast. After the third failed attempt, I could take my child’s screams from the pain no longer and finally walked out of the doctor’s office despite their protests.
My child never did have a successful PKU test and my other two children were never subjected to this test as I never allowed it again. This is one thing that if I could do over, I would have handled differently as I would have skipped the PKU completely from the get go.
I hope this list encourages you to consider having your child at a birthcenter instead of the hospital.
If you are an experienced birthcenter Mom, doula or midwife and I’ve inadvertently left out some additional reasons for evaluating an out of hospital birth, please add them in the comments section for those who may use this post as a checklist for making this important decision!
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist.com
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{ 105 comments… read them below or add one }
21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter — The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/d6iXnCYA
Sarah, hi, another good reason to skip the hospital is to avoid registering/contracting with the state by filing the birth certificate and all other socialist contracts.
Thanks for the post. We recently gave birth at a birthing center near you. Almost 9lbs. and because of it we avoid everything that a hospital would typically jam down the spine of the parents.
Sarah,
It seems like I am not receiving your daily emails. I signed up again for your emails and your system says that I am alread signed up. But yet, I don’t seem to be receiving them lately. The last email I have of yours is 8/28/2011. Thanks much. I really enjoy your emails.
Hi Noreen, I don’t know what might be the problem. Google’s Feedburner software handles the signup process. I know several people who are subscribed by email who are receiving the daily updates just fine. I have my own email subscribed as well to just check that everything is ok on a daily basis and am receiving everything ok too. Perhaps the problem is with your email provider?
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
I’m glad you post information about birth. Giving birth naturally was what brought me to a traditional diet. I chose a birth center that had built an amazing community of all the families that used the center and communicated in an online forum. It was through there that I was introduced to WAPF, then it was my inability to breastfeed that spurred my efforts to change. It definitely seems as though natural birth and whole food diets go hand in hand. If you don’t want your food messed with, why would you want your body and baby messed with?
Cassandra\’s last post: Home
I was unable to breastfeed as well – my milk simply never came in. It has always been a mystery as even my doctors were clueless. Do you have any insight as to what causes this?
Pam M\’s last post: A Tribute to an Indiana Summer
Thyroid issues play a role in breastfeeding problems .. either low supply or no supply.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
I had insufficient glandular tissue from puberty and then I did not grow any more tissue during pregnancy. There are pictures and descriptions of the typical breast shapes in the book Making More Milk, which I recommend regardless as it covers basically all of the issues that can cause milk production problems, though very little information is given on genuine solutions. I blame it on growing up eating margarine, pasteurized milk and a plethora of other nasty, hormone disrupting/mimicking foods. I’m going to seek counsel from a naturpath and create a plan in combination with a midwife before I ever get pregnant again for building tissue and dealing promptly with any breastfeeding difficulties. Most commonly it requires progesterone supplementation, which I’m uneasy about, but there are also herb regimens that can help. I have probably the worst case scenario for milk production problems as all of my glands aren’t functioning correctly and quite honestly I feel lucky that not being able to breastfeed was the worst outcome.
Cassandra\’s last post: Home
Just an aside re: your email probs, this article about NOT using feedburner to handle the email list: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2011/08/29/how-to-email-your-blog-updates-like-a-problogger/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ProbloggerHelpingBloggersEarnMoney+(ProBlogger%3A+Helping+Bloggers+Earn+Money)
Enjoy your blog!
Keri
Keri MAe, thanks for sharing this problogger link! I love reading everything technical about blogs/websites since I create/maintain my blog by myself!
marina\’s last post: Easy Fermented Cucumbers
These are great reasons, I wish we had birth centres in Canada. Maybe they do but I am not aware? maybe fellow Canadians can shine the light on this? We do have midwifes and can give home birth.
Hospitals to have their place though, they are great with emergency things! My 2 daughters were born prematurely, one induced at 8 month because she was not growing properly, one came at 7 months noone knows why. So the neonatal unit nurses were great of taking care of them while the babies gained weight on my milk! Now they are healthy smart girls because of the WAPF diet (I wish I new about it when I was pregnant, my pregnancy diet with them was more to expect for sure!). So it is never too late to change your kids’ health!
Also, you do not have to have an epidural if you do not want to, I just said no and it was fine. However some of my friends do say that they would have lots of kids just because the birth process is easier with the epidural!! Go figure.
marina\’s last post: Easy Fermented Cucumbers
Hi Sarah,
I am very grateful for all of the information on your website. I just gave birth last week and had a wonderful birthing experience at our hospital. I had a fantastic nurse midwife and would do it all over again. My daughter was full term but is frightfully small at 4# 9oz. She had some struggles for which I am grateful we were at the hospital. We are currently trying to keep her weight up. She is unbelievably alert just small. I cannot imagine how much smaller she would have been had it not been for the traditional diet I mostly followed. The lactation nurses at the hospital who have been in the field for 20 years could not believe that I was able to express 55 cc of colostrum out a day and half after birth let alone the color that looked like egg yolk from a pastured egg. MMMmmm…God’s provision and traditional diet again! One of us was always at her side and we declined all shots, immunizations, and ointments due to the reading that was sparked by your website. My husband usually has left the reading up to me but he did it himself this time and was a very strong presence of, “You are not putting that stuff in my daughter!” It with great relief that we are able to say there is no way she was accidently poked or anything.
I, like you, never considered birth outside a hospital….that is until I read birth book after birth book. (Obviously, all the medical ones!) By the middle of each book I realized I was overly anxious about birth and no longer wanted to go through with it because of what the doctors/nurses may subject me to. Being already pregnant, I heard of a midwife that had just started in the area and was building a birth center. The center was not completed by the time I was due to have my first baby, so homebirth it was for him and later my other 3 children! I have never regretted the decision and so, so happy with the results. (without a doubt, I would have had a c-section at the hospital) I always considered birth a natural and happy experience and without a hospital, that is exactly what I got! Thanks for the article. I believe every woman should be informed of all the great options that are out there and not made to think that doctors ,in all their “superior knowledge” of risks are the only “safe” choice.
I am one of those that labored in a hospital and got drugs, had my water broken, was on pitosin and ended up with a second ceserean. It took me years to get over it and I still secretly ask God to have a natural birth if there is any way. I would, (and do to everyone who will listen) encourage then to use a midwife. Especially if you want a large family, go with a midwife and a birthing center. Thank the LORD I have a doctor now in Alaska that takes each patient on a case by case basis and has “allowed” me to have 5 c-sections and says that my uterus still looks great and I can have another one. But, I have been told over and over and over by women with a smaller family that this is not normal and most doctors “stop” their patients after 3 or 4 c-sections max. I have also noticed through my 11 years of bearing children that the number of c-sections is increasing not decreasing. Thank you for doing this post, Sarah!
Jamie, ACOG pubished a practice bulletin in ’10 changing their stance on VBAC to allow VBA2C. I realize that the birth climate in Alaska (to generalize) isn’t very VBAC-friendly but check out ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) and see if there’s a chapter near you. I know there are one or two at least in Alaska. Even if there’s not one nearby they may be able to direct you to a care provider who will support you in VBA2C. If at all possible it’s worth attempting, especially if you want a large family, as the health risks to you increase with each cesarean you have (hence the limit on the number doctors will perform), as you’re probably already well aware.
21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter — The Healthy Home Economist
http://ow.ly/6vn5n
Great list! But make sure you check and see if your birth center adheres to all the above policies. Mine strongly pushes the Group B strep test, the PKU test and pap smears (another useless test for those with limited sexual activity in my opinion). I had to be a bit pushy to make sure I didn’t get those!
Pap smears after the birth or before?
There are no such birthing centers where I live, but a couple of hospitals are slowly evolving to a better birthing environment. Where I give birth, they say 90% of births are medicated, but when they came into my room they said, “we only ask you once if you want an epidurals and that’s now.” They are pitocin happy, though, but if you are a veteran mom and insist on an all natural birth, they pretty much leave you to it. Babies where I give birth are not given formula or any bottle or pacifier unless mom verbally says I am not breast feeding. It is not much and far from ideal, but it is better than most hospitals. I remember my SIL wide-eyed telling me, “they never let me get out of bed to walk” after I told her that 2 laps around the nurses station got the baby down and out.
Thanks for the great list. I recently saw the documentary “The Business of Being Born” and was horrified by what I learned about hospital births. I haven’t had any children yet, but when I do I plan to have them in a birthing center.
Heather\’s last post: Free Home Remedies — Natural Remedies for Everyday Illnesses
Labor of Love in Lutz is amazing!
Love it, but as far as the equipment is concerned, midwives are fully prepared for emergencies, and usually you can’t give birth at home unless you’re within a certain distance of a hospital. I’ve had three homebirths and can’t imagine birthing any other way!
I love it too, but was going to mention the same thing about equipment. I’m pretty sure a free-standing birth center doesn’t have more equipment than a homebirth midwife. But I do agree for a lot of women a birth center can feel like the “happy medium” between hospital and home. =]
I had one barely-made-it-to-the-hospital birth and then 4 unassisted home births and wouldn’t ever go back.
Home birth for me!
Now if only we could get the state of Alabama to make it legal! Ugh
I used a birth center and Hypnobabies for my first. Will be most likely going the homebirth route (still with the awesomeness that is Hypnobabies) for #2.
Want to have an out of hospital birth…but not quite comfortable with a homebirth…? I agree with this other… http://t.co/qoXwxP7E
I did 2 natural hospital births and baby #3 was home birth, it was awsome. I will continue home births:)
Hi,
I’ve spoken to two midwifes about having a home birth if I every get pregnant. Both said they give a vitamin K tablet. How do you feel about that?
How much nettle tea were you drinking? Are there other ways to get vitamin K to your baby?
Thanks for your response.
Hi Lori, I personally would skip the vitamin K tablet if given the choice. I drank 1-2 cups of nettle tea everyday for a few weeks before my delivery date.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
Any special blend or just the stuff you can buy from Whole Foods?
Thanks again.
Just get any brand that is organic if you can find it. Don’t get ones that have nettle mixed in with other herbs.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
Sarah, why not nettle mixed with other herbs? I am 8 mo. pregnant and have been drinking an herbal tea blend of 1/4 cup Red Raspberry Leaf, 1/4 cup Nettle Leaf, 1 TBSP Oatstraw and 1 TBSP Alfalfa leaf with Stevia leaf to sweeten in 1 quart water (almost) daily. I ordered and mix the herbs myself. Any reason I shouldn’t combine the raspberry and nettle leaves? The Oatstraw and Alfalfa are just for added nutrition.
I had 2 amazing waterbirths w/Bea at Labor of Love Birth Center of Lutz and wouldn’t change a thing!
I was a Midwife Assistant for several home births… and loved it, especially the moment of birth when we could feel the presence of God in a way which truly makes one rejoice for the gift of life, when the baby arrived. One home birth in particular had some complications… all went well in the end. With midwives… one can also use medicinal herbs. My daughter who had to go In vitro fertilization opted for a birthing center for both of their children and they were fabulous as well! She had life threatening complications with the first and they were fully equipped. Another good part to me was there was no other germs there from sick patients floating around as only those having births were the occupants. PLUS… ALL family members could visit, little children as well!
I’ve had both of my children at the birth center and this covers most of the reasons why we chose a freestanding birth center. We had wonderful experiences with both births. With my second birth I arrived at 9.5 cm dilated but was still smiling and talking and feeling great between contractions and composed during them. I felt so comfortable and at ease at the birth center because the midwives give you privacy and the staff to patient ratio is amazing! I always had a midwife and a nurse care for me only when I birthed. Compared to a hospital that is an amazing amount of individual attention. I was coached by the midwife on how to relax and labor. I appreciated her wisdom and encouragement. I also would add that for me having female attendants made me feel much more comfortable. I did not want to go to a hospital and lose privacy and also possibly have a male doctor or nurse which would have made me feel very uneasy. Birth centers SHOULD BE the norm for low risk women. More women would have great experiences too I think if they had that level of care.
Oh and I forgot to add we drove over an hour to get to the closest birth center to our house and it was so worth it! Oh and the drive while 9 cm wasn’t bad and actually was relaxing. I was in the back seat on my hands and knees vocalizing and relaxing. It was peaceful just our unborn son my self and husband in the car. Precious memories.
We would have to drive an hour or so to get to the closet one too, but I don’t like the idea of having to leave our other 4 kids…(We have no family nearby…)
Nice list! Hospital birth was never an option for me! After two homebirths I am so happy I chose them. They were two of the best days of my life! Birthcenters are a great option too–just can’t imagine actually having to get in the car during my labors though!
Also, most homebirth midwives come equipped with the same medical technologies available at a freestanding birth center–I wouldn’t let that deter someone from birthing at home. Just ask a lot of questions and really educate yourself about the whole experience. There are so many great books out there: Ina May’s Guide & Henci Goers to name two!
excellent article!! Thanks for sharing! I’m also wondering if you have a list of suggested reading for preconception, pregnancy and beyond? I’ve read Healing our children by Rami Nagel and have the Nourishing Our Children DVD.
My go to childbirth book was Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
Both my children were born at a birth centers and I had wonderful experiences. I agree with every reason you point out. I truly believe I probably would have had 2 c sections if I’d been at a hospital because I take a long time to push the baby out but I always get the baby out no problems. It’s just that at the hospitals around here they put you on the clock and the midwife is PATIENT!
I love how much individual care they give at the B.C.!
#1 at a birthing center, #2 and 3 at home. After witnessing my sister give birth in a hospital I knew there had to be a better way!!
Hi Sarah! I’ve enjoyed browsing through your blog! I wanted to give a little bit of a different perspective on hospital births then what you’ve given, because I believe you can have a natural, drug free, nurse/doctor/midwife supported birth at a hospital. I believe that because I did-in fact, I had two of them! My OBGYN had midwives at her practice that I saw on a routine basis during my prenatal care. I was perfectly comfortable with them delivering my babies and so was our local hospital. In my first delivery, my OBGYN was present, and in my second, only my midwife was. I was able to accomplish many of the things you listed… I did not have an epidural and was VERY supported by my wonderful L&D nurses both times. Both of my L&D nurses were EXCITED to hear that I wanted a natural labor… they asked if it would be ok if they allowed some of their fellow nurses to come in and observe part of my labor just because there were several nurses on the floor who had never seen a natural birth. In my second birth, I labored the entire time in the tub and would have been allowed to deliver in the tub, but I decided to get out…. I was getting a little too relaxed in the tub.
I was stalled at 8 centimeters and the L&D nurse determined that my baby was face up, so she put me in a spiderman position to turn my baby rather then flipping on the pitocin to shoot me into transition. That position did the trick (my baby flipped!) and I delivered my little one fifteen minutes later! I was allowed to eat and drink during my labor-my nurse just advised that I be “smart” about what I ate-nothing with too much sugar that could uspet my stomach when labor got intense. I learned my lesson the hard way after ignoring that advice and throwing up the donut I ate with my first labor… yuck. Second labor, I snacked on nuts and drank TONS of water during my labor. Again, the hospital staff was very supportive. I know that I can’t make a generalization that every hospital experience will be like mine was because it sounds like you’ve found women who have had the opposite experience as mine. But, I did want to at least show that it isn’t entirely impossible to find a hospital group that is supportive of a natural birth… just in case there are any readers out there who feel the hospital is the best spot for them!
This is really nice to hear!! Here in KY homebirths are illegal and the closet birthing center is over a hour away! I’ve had 4 in a hospital so far (with a doctor) but I’ve heard they have a lot of good midwives here! So thanks for the positive outlook on birthing at hospitals with a midwife, as it looks like it’s my only option!
Sarah, I must respectfully disagree with so many of the points within this post….or if not the point, the very biased and bitter tone used to express it. I know many labor and delivery nurses, such as myself, would find the comment, “trust me, you don’t want some intervention happy nurse messing with your bag of waters just so he/she can go to lunch break on time!” offensive and simply not grounded in fact. So many of the healthcare professionals within the hospital are very pleased to assist in a natural birth because is it often “the road not taken” and can be such an exhilirating event, for both mother and onlookers. To make many of the assumptions that you did in this post, to me, is unfair and uninformed reporting. A hospital birth can most certainly be a “joyous occasion”, a carefully chosen doctor will gladly allow a naturally birthing mother to squat or deliver on all fours, a vaccination “mistake” leaves a hospital open to huge liability and is not as common as you implied (signing a waiver easily allows the parents to forego vaccination if they deem that best for their child), to name just a few of the misrepresentations within this article of many Hospital – Labor and Delivery units. I am certain that unfortunate AND blissful experiences are had in both facilities, Birth Center and Hospital…it’s the nature of the beast. In addition, some of my dearest friends are proponents for birth centers, so I think highly of many of the centers myself. However, I will not support the damaging of the reputations of many exceptional Labor and Delivery facilities, as well as the workers within that have committed themselves to the well-being of the mothers and babies within their care. After having cared for a dying mother, and many ill babies, in addition to all those blessed with a fabulous birth experience, I feel unquestionably certain of the value of hospitals in the birthing process. I think we would agree that the choice is a personal one and neither option is a perfect fit for all….accepting such can still allow us to see the VALUE in both.
I have no doubt there are some wonderful caring doctors and nurses who work in hospital OB. If what you say is true, though, why are women leaving hospital births behind in droves? If hospitals are losing customers that speaks the truth for itself. While there are excellent individuals working in hospitals, the overall experience is poor for most. The overall experience at birthcenters for most is excellent. Playing the odds for a wonderful birth experience – a birth center wins hands down for a low risk woman.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
I should also add that 2 of my 3 pregnancies would most likely have been C-sections in a hospital. Because of the skill and above and beyond efforts of midwives in a birthcenter, I had all three natural and vaginally. Obviously, my experiences at a hospital would have been a disaster as what the midwives did for me would never have been done in a hospital. I know this because a friend who is a doula who has attended at many hospital births has witnessed the refusal of hospital staff to do a simple thing like push a cervical flap back so that I woman can start pushing and instead opted for a C-section. In another one of my births, the cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. Many hospitals would use this an an excuse to do a C-section. My midwife instead was able to skillfully unwrap the cord during the birth. Amazing. You don’t see that kind of effort made at the hospital.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
While I am very much a proponent of out of hospital birth, having apprenticed with a CPM for a year attending homebirths I also have to disagree with several points in this post and the overall tone. I’ve attended dozens of births in the hospital. I haven’t seen epidurals pushed, although the simple fact that moms know they are available does make it harder to go without. Most of the nurses I’ve worked with have been very supportive of moms going without pain meds, have given encouragement and made suggestions for comfort measures or positions. A woman’s choice of care provider has the greatest influence on her experience at the hospital in my opinion. The doctor is the one who will pressure to break mom’s water or require continuous fetal monitoring (which again, is not common here unless the baby appears distressed). Also the nurses caring for the baby immediately after birth usually make an effort to ask if the parents want the hep B shot and are very respectful of what’s on the birth plan. I realize there’s lots of room for improvement at the hospital (seems like around here at least it’s mainly with baby care and the many practices that aren’t backed by evidence) but it is possible for couples to have very positive birth experiences at the hospital if they choose their care provider wisely and are knowledgeable and willing to stand up for what they want.
Rachel, I appreciate what you have to say and even if every single one of the points in this post is pure baloney, birthcenters STILL blow away hospitals by a mile because of the low C-section rate. It does not matter one bit if your doctor or nurses are wonderful and fantastic if hospital procedure dictates a C-section under a given set of circumstances. Unfortunately, it seems pretty much all hospitals today still have procedures that force women into C-sections much more readily than should reasonably happen. For this reason alone, low risk women should wisely seek an out of hospital birth. Going to the hospital is just asking for trouble and if you want a vaginal birth, it is smart to avoid them altogether.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
Hi Sarah
I love the fact that we can have midwifes in NZ and have lovely birth centres. I stayed home until last minutes with my first one, it was only my family and midwife at the birth centre, I was 9cm and they had to broke my waters, and push back that flap – all with minimum pain relief as most of it made me feel sick. My daughter also had the cord around her neck, and no side effects at all. Unfortunately with my twins I had to have it in the hospital, the same midwife caught the first one when the registar rushed in, broke the waters of the second one (too soon) and she started to go into distress, then the docter tried to do a scan where my midwife clearly told her she is coming out bum first. It was a busy night and the docter was clearly in a hurry. After the successfull birth thanks to my midwife’s silent intervention, we went straight to the birthing centre and both us and the midwife complained about the registar. I would have preferred my midwife all the way through even if we had to have it in a hospital.
Very respectfully put. Thank you for sharing.
Christy, The Simple Homemaker\’s last post: How to Make a To-Do List, part one
I wanted to have a birth center birth from the time I was young. My mother told me about a friend who was sitting in a rocking chair with her new baby at the birth center and about the jacuzzis there! I also watched HER give birth to my younger brother when I was 16 and her shouting NO NO NO as they tried to put an IV in when she was 10 cm and pushing! I knew THEN I wanted a midwife at a birth center.
When the time came, though, I chose a home birth. 1. The midwives carry all the stuff the birth center has (other than the jacuzzi). 2. The midwives were on rotation at the center and I couldn’t just choose one. Also, they were kind of more “nursey” than I liked. 3. I would have to get in a car and drive to the center in labor and come back home again afterwords. 4. It was more expensive. 5. I love my midwife and she does home births. And yes, everyone thinks I am a nut case while my friend who had her baby at the birth center last fall, is considered perfectly normal.
It’s important to note that babies produce on their own as much vitamin K on day 7 or 8 as they ever will need in their lives (interestingly circumcision was performed in the Jewish culture on day 8). We must ask ourselves… is there a reason babies don’t produce vitamin K at birth? Perhaps the body just isn’t ready for it, as it usually has good reasons for doing the things it does.
We are choosing a homebirth with a licensed midwife, and I also have to point out that they bring tools to the birth including: oxygen, pitocin (hemorrhage) and many other tools to aid them in case of emergency or on the way to transfer. It can be just as safe (and in many ways safer) than hospital or birth center birth.
Thanks Sarah for another great post! I’m happy to find a comprehensive piece about vitamin K and all of the considerations you listed!
I am not at all against birthing centers or home births…I think I would be a great experience, but if I had not giving birth to my first baby in a hospital with immediate axcess to an operating room I would have lost him, and he spent 10 days in the NICU as it was. My labor before the c-section went great, the c-section went great, my recovery was great, and my 2 VBAC births since then have both gone great. I love my hospital! I have wonderful doctors who have never pushed medication on me and have been open to whatever birthing position I want to try, nor have they ever offered my babies bottles. My docotrs were very supportiveof my decidsion to have VBAC deliveries, and did everything they could to make my experience great. Like I said..
Wow…check out all my typos! ;
I have to agree with Jenn, the previous commenter. I am pregnant with my seventh child. All six so far have been birthed in a hospital. I was recently told by a home birthing father the number of reasons why he refused to let his wife birth in a hospital. It was all based on fear and inaccurate information. After 28 hours of labor with my first (large) child and getting extremely weak, I was given a half dose of drugs. The rest were completely natural. Yes, it is rare, but it can be done. I am a heavy bleeder, and want docs and drugs on hand should I bleed too much. I normally stay away from drugs, but if it’s going to save my life, I think the choice is obvious.
On another note, my mother would have died if she had not been in the hospital with her fourth child.
Both sides have their benefits, but many of the things you list above are not true. If you ask for certain things, such as no monitor, no drugs, etc., that’s what you’ll get. And bring your own food! Most of the time they leave me and my husband alone, and aren’t even going to know if we’re feasting on liver and onions while I’m in labor.
I have delivered in five different hospitals in two states and found the experience varies depending on the staff. Some are great, some are just doing their jobs, just like our experiences at the health food stores, farmer’s market, etc.
So, yes, birthing centers are wonderful, and I would have preferred them because of my personality. BUT, no, your child will not be forcibly extracted by forceps in the hands of a knife-wielding doctor while you’re drugged up and strapped to a metal table with nurses all around threatening to give your children incurable diseases with vaccinations and eye cream. My children did receive the eye cream and were all alert and focused on me for the first hour as well. Nobody gave them sugar water, and they were all highly supportive of breastfeeding. And the reason I didn’t get sleep in the hospital was because of the baby.
So, people, as much as I would love to have a homebirth, if you, like me, have a medical or personal (husband and mother) reason to be in the hospital, don’t panic. Nothing is EVER ideal (not even a home birth), but don’t be afraid! Stick up for your rights, make sure your husband knows what you want, and tell him in advance not to let you change your mind about the drugs or epidural, if you really mean it. In the end, I believe the next 60 years of your time with your child will be more important. Just two cents from a mom who had five wonderful births, from 16 to 48 hours long, and one very difficult first birth, during which I think my grandmother’s method of being knocked out ’til the baby was born would have been preferable.
Having an strong willed advocate in any hospital setting definitely helps things from going awry!
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
I think what happens definitely depends on the state you live in, as well as the locale. If you’re in an inner city area, I don’t think you’re going to get that, “this is what we want–Oh please, how may I serve you” kind of care. As far as being left alone in a hospital setting, that has not been my experience. I lived in a major metropolitan area for 4 of my births. That means high malpractice insurance. They’re NOT going to leave you alone… Of course, it has also been almost 9 years since my youngest was born. There could’ve been a reawakening in this area, but doubtful.
Speaking up is fine and dandy, but my friend’s daughter had a hospital birth in the south this year, and the medical staff ran the show, top to bottom. My friend was even threatened with being removed by security for asking to wait on ‘necessary medical intervention’ like sugar water in the bottle! They told the mother that the baby had a low or high temp (can’t remember which) and that SHE, THE MOTHER, WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HOLD THE BABY TILL THE BABY’S TEMP NORMALIZED!!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. Not made up to make the south look BACKWARDS or anything like that. TRUE, and outlandish, disgusting, and i can’t think of how many other adjectives to describe it…
So where some may live in a community with very nice, well informed, hospital staff, that’s very often not the case. Again, I say, INFORM YOURSELVES, ARM YOURSELVES, GET YOUR HUSBAND TO PRACTICE SPEAKING UP AND TAKING AUTHORITY OVER YOUR SITUATION, because many times, the moms are PREOCCUPIED WITH LABOR PAINS, and do it with a smile, or they may threaten to remove you or your inlaws from the hospital. . .
Sorry for the caps. I truly believe that Christy had a great experience and not all babies can be born away from a hospital setting, as my last one couldn’t be. And I’m glad you did have a good experience. I just don’t want some innocent moms out there being fooled into thinking it’s EASY
I agree! I had all 7 of our babies at a wonderful birthing center and wouldn’t have it any other way! I am sooo spoiled by my sweet midwives
I have never experienced a hospital birth, thankfully! Hope I never will!
homebirth here!
I had my first DD at a birthing center and had a great experience until I had to take her home…I had to put my BRAND SPANKIN new, delicate angel in a carseat. I was terrified the entire way home. When I got pregnant with my son, I knew I wanted all the perks of a birthing center but without the travel stress and had a homebirth. Best decision of my life. It was the most transcending experience of my life and I couldn’t recommend it more. I used the same midwives as my first birth and any equipment that could possibly be needed (that they would have at the birthing center) was brought to my home. I wish I would have had both children at home, but i think my first helped me decide that homebirth isn’t as scary as I thought. (for all intents and purposes it was exactly like the birth center…but better)
GREAT post, Sarah! I completely agree! I had two of mine at a birthing center, and it was WONDERFUL!!!
I delivered my first at a freestanding birth center. One of the benefits that you didn’t mention was that I was able to choose when I wanted to go home. They only required that I stay at least 4 hours after she was born. I was able to be home that night and sleep in my bed. I know that many would prefer to stay and be waited on, but I wanted to be back in the comfort of my own home.
On the flip side, I will say that I delivered my second in a hospital – we moved so were unable to use the same birth center. I had a great experience in the hospital too, BUT that is most likely because I had already had such a positive experience with no interventions. I made sure to be a little pushy when I had to, so that I was able to labor and deliver the way I wanted to. I might not have been so bold the first time around – and therefore might not have had such a positive experience.
#1 in a small hospital overseas (which essentially was like a birthing center) and #2 in a hospital with a midwife. there were no birthing centers around me, but the hospital was great with the midwife there to support me!
This is a great post, but I think it should also be noted that it is possible to have everything you mentioned in a hospital, IF you have a detailed birth plan, a great doula, and you and your labor partner have educated yourselves in the process of labor. Due to my limiting insurance I was given no choice but to give birth in a NYC hospital which boasts a 99% intervention rate- yikes! My Dr. was not a fan of natural birth, but again I was stuck with her because of insurance limitations, but I did convince her to approve my birth plan which included a promise that no one from the hospital staff was to ask me if I was in pain or if I needed drugs, that my baby went directly to my chest until after the first nursing or a minimum of an hour, that the cord was not clamped until it stopped pulsing, that the Vit. K and Hep shots were not to be given, and my baby was to room in with me and not be given a pacifier. This was all overseen by my doula and my husband, they enforced it and reminded everyone who even whispered a bit of doubt to read my birth plan. Essentially what I’m saying is that women don’t have to be afraid of giving birth in a hospital if that’s their only choice, they can make the experience exactly what they want it to be. What’s important for women to remember is that they can say no to an intervention, it is never required. The patient is in charge- I think too many women forget this or never even know this.
Thanks for this inspirational comment, Sara. Thanks for pointing out that some have no choice but to go to the hospital due to insurance limitations and your pointers about how to navigate the unfriendly waters toward a noninterventionist birth where pretty much all procedures are geared to force you down that rabbit hole will I’m sure help many.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
My experience with most doctors and hospitals is that they think they own you once you enter their doors. You do what they say and follow their procedures. Period.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
There are no birthing centers where I live. I birthed both of my children at home. My midwives were awesome and totally capable of handling the complications I had with my first birth: retained placenta, very small baby (4 lb at full term), and postpartum hemorrhage. At least where I live, the home birth midwives have fair amount of technology at their disposal, should it be needed. They use handheld doppler to check heart tones during the labor, they can do IV’s if necessary, and they are very experienced in natural births (whereas it seems like the hospital staff are much more experienced with technological births, but don’t get to see many natural births). My postpartum blood loss did get to be too much at home, so I was transferred to the hospital (only 10 min away) to have a couple blood transfusions. While I was in the hospital recovering, at least two mistakes were made. It seems like mistakes have been made every time someone I know has been at the hospital.
Even with the complications, I am so glad to have birthed at home. A friend who had a baby around the same time as me had a retained placenta in the hospital, and the hospital staff actually inverted her uterus (pulled it out of her body) by yanking very hard on the umbilical cord; that is life-threatening and seriously scary. My midwives knew it wasn’t a good plan to yank the cord, so they did a manual removal. It wasn’t fun, but it was the right way to deal with the problem. I am also so glad my daughter wasn’t born in the hospital as I would have had a very hard time getting to bring her home in any reasonable amount of time and ensuring she only received breastmilk (because of her low weight). I had an amazing group of breastfeeding friends who pumped milk for my daughter while we were waiting for my milk supply to be established (since she couldn’t wait with such a low weight).
My second home birth was very quick (just over 2 hours) with no complications. I really enjoyed being able to be at home postpartum vs. being in the hospital the first time around.
Birth can be such a beautiful experience. Of course birth can also be enjoyable in the hospital, but by-and-large that does not seem to be the norm. Being able to birth as my body intuitively knew to do was such an amazing experience. I hope more women get the opportunity to have such great experiences.
Sarah Smith\’s last post: Nourishing Alternatives to Lotion, Including Recipes for Whipped Body Butter and Hard Lotion
We have had all six of our babies with the same mid-wife at a birthing center (and are set to have #7 there in 8 more weeks!) We have been home within a couple of hours after each birth and have had wonderful experiences.
I had two of my babies try to come out face first, this was very difficult and took some time. I’m sure that if I were at the hospital they would have wanted me to have a c-section (and at the time I felt ready to do anything to get the baby out and would probably have agreed to a c-section out of pain and fear). These days no one in Washington State will do a v-bac, so avoiding a c-section is especially important.
Baby #6 pretty much fell out as I was laboring kneeling by the bed. Our midwife was across the room reading a book when one tiny push unexpectedly brought out our latest baby girl!
I highly encourage young mothers to look around for a good mid-wife as well.
I found out that my great-great-grandmother was a certified Hungarian mid-wife/herbalist. I sure wish she was still around!
Heh I thought I recognized that picture so looked it up, I’ve seen it from the main road and never knew what it was. You have definitely given me something to think about for when I have kids, hopefully soon.
You won’t regret it Summer. A top notch facility.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
Sarah (or any other reader for that matter), have you heard of placenta encapsulation? I’d really be curious on your thoughts. My midwife is recommending it for me after some health problems I had after the last birth. She thinks it could keep me from having to take meds (which I’m all for!). It just seems SO WEIRD to me!! But, many things have before, and I’m doing them now
I had my/son’s placenta encapsulated. Can’t recommend it enough – really helps balance out your hormones post partum, and get you back to your normal self.
I will be encapsulating mine- I’ve never heard of someone saying that they regretted, but plenty who say that they wish they had
I meant I’m all for not taking meds, not for meds!
My first was born in a hospital, waters broken after “stalled” labor at 7cm, fast forward to epi that only worked on one side and a c-section a couple of hours later. My second was born 3 weeks ago in a birth center, beautiful water birth, no rush, midwives that had faith in me and my ability to birth this baby (a 10lb 1oz boy with a big 15″ head and nuchal hand to boot). The two experiences are incomparable. If I have another one I’ll be going back to the birth center (Andaluz in Portland, OR)
I need to learn that reading blog posts like this can sometimes upset me. One thing you do not talk about is what happens when you’ve planned a birth center birth but end up with complications like placenta previa or pre-eclampsia (I had both). My hospital and OB gave me every chance I could ask for. Sometimes its more about researching the hospital…Just my opinion
Lauren\’s last post: Being Okay with a Cesarean
Hi Lauren, I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you but labor/delivery are unpredictable and even at a birth center where the typical transfer rate to the hospital is at an insanely low 2-3%, there are still a few women who have complications and need to go there. A birthcenter is still a much better shot than the hospital for an intervention free birth.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter
Good reAd RT @realfoodmedia: 21 Reasons to Have Your Baby at a Birthcenter http://t.co/p44fJ70t
the first intervention in the birthing process occurs when one leaves their safe and comfortable home. i gave birth at home a month ago after having a very bad outcome to our hospital birth two years ago. we couldn’t be happier this time with the outcome of our home birth to our 10 lb baby boy!
My first birth was technically a hospital birth, but only because we barely made it there. At the time my insurance WOULD NOT cover a homebirth, so I did my research, convinced myself that I would labor at home, and that’s what I did. Barely knew that I was in labor, most of the time. My daughter was born 5 hours after my first contraction, and 15 minutes after we got to the hospital. Having now witnessed doula births there, I can only surmise that my birth went that fast because I was NOT THERE. Honestly, I don’t even know how ANY babies are born in the hospital. Between the wires and 20 (thousand) questions, who has time for birthing babies?! lol
This time, there is a new birth center in town, and I lost my job right after I got pregnant. Fortunately, Medicaid DOES pay for the birth center (more for a birth center than homebirth), and since my husband is more comfortable going to the birthcenter, we will be having the baby there, provided that we make it there. If things go really fast, the midwife will be coming to us. What OB can promise that?!
I totally agree with the list. Of course there are some good hospitals, and there are some not-so-great birthing centers, but in general, having a baby in a hospital is fraught with obstacles and can easily become a disaster. Birthing centers are much more calm and facilitate an easier birth for everyone- mom and partner. I think it goes without saying that some women need to be in the hospital, but the majority do not, and for them, birth centers should be readily available and encouraged.
I had pre-eclampsia develop while in labor with both of my children, and started out at a birth center for baby #2 but went to the hospital while in labor. Actually, while pre-pushing. It was interesting. Anyway, if you do have a hospital birth, it’s great to show up when you are almost done! Less time for them to mess with you
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Hospital births are great for women and babies who truly need them. I think my kids needed to be born where they were because of my complications.
For future births, hopefully I won’t have pre-e. I’m trying to clean up my diet and improve my health in case I can undo whatever is going on in my body that’s causing this. Any ideas from anyone would be welcome!
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I agree with all your reasons! After a few of my friends had horrible experiences giving birth in hospitals, I started looking into birthing alternatives. A friend had fabulous births at a birthing center, but I didn’t want to travel 1 and 1/2 hours to the site. I settled on home birth with a fabulous midwife. Thankfully, after 2 successful homebirths, I was able to have an unassisted birth when the midwife was still an hour and 1/2 away driving in an ice storm!
The best births are the calm and peaceful ones where you can connect with your body and discover birthing a baby can be a spiritual experience: no matter where the birth is.
Thanks for your lovely article!
Oh boy. i guess you’ll get TONS of responses to this one.
My 1st birth was a disaster in the hospital–a c-section diverted only due to the diligence of 2 midwives on duty, who suggested I lie on MY SIDE (wow, a DR. couldn’t think of that?) to let my daughter move more easily through my pelvis. That experience solidified my resolve to use a midwife for the next one. The labor time was cut in half. I’d love to say I was pain free and smiling (but sadly my labors got longer instead of shorter each time!), my recovery time was instantaneous, even with some minor hemmoraging, that the midwife was able to stop by using her hands. I don’t want to know what they would’ve done to me in the hospital!
Went back a 2nd and 3rd time to the birth center. The head midwife was awesome and the care was fantastic. I could choose how to sit, stand, walk, move or not, eat, drink, whatever. My husband could lie in the double bed with me! The care was constant but not invasive. The hospital was right down the road if it was needed.. My 3rd child had to go to the hospital and stayed for 5 days. It was awful. Nothing that was caused by the midwives, just because of her size. I too stayed there and watched her heel get pricked again and again.
I wish I could turn back time and know all I do now. I got all my children vaccinated as infants. The three youngest got chicken pox vaccine. I was a working mother at the time and thought it’d be more convenient for me to not miss work. I did take a stand on how many they would do at one time, and I think partly due to that, they are healthy today. I would only let them do 2 at a time. The pediatricians I used were very flexible. I wish they had told us not to use them however. All in all my children are very healthy; I think it’s because we have never eaten a lot of processed food. I didn’t let my children eat packaged foods too much and I always had them eat fresh fruit and veggies. To this day, we only see the Dr. about once a year for sick visits.
My 5th child was an emergency c-section so of course I went to the hospital. I was a week overdue, almost 44, and had gestational diabetes. They weren’t taking any chances. I kept him in my room so they couldn’t pollute him with sugar water. I don’t know what kind of tests they ran–I felt like I was in some weird sci-fi tv show. Every 10 minutes a new person came in the room and said, hi, I’m so and so, and I’m here to do xyz. I wasn’t going to leave my son alone for a minute. It caused an awful flasback to DD#3 being in an isolette in the nicu and being hooked up to tubes and being on massive doses of antibiotic (to clear up meconium aspirated during birth). She’s had allergic dermatitis her entire life–no surprise there. She also had a problem swallowing and chewing and other fine motor issues, as well as delayed speech, which none of my other 4 children had. As a matter of fact, 3 of 5 were early talkers, with only my 2nd child having a slight speech delay (due to birth order, I believe) but who also turned out to have some other neurological problems, so we don’t know for sure. Happily though, that child is a senior in college and an honors student, with a 3.9 gpa for the last 3 yrs, and maintaining a 4.0 through high school. Even my in-the-hospital-for-a-week baby is an A student. She’s just more quiet than the other 4
I did things very differently with DS (baby #5). I cloth diapered, I breast fed him till almost 2 1/2, he didn’t eat any processed foods or drink any juice. It was fun to finally be able to be a natural mom with my last pregnancy!
So don’t worry about little minor things happening at a natural birth, ladies. Things happen at hospitals too, and they escalate them to such a degree that there’s no going back many times! God gave us the ability to birth children. We have to rely on Him through these times and educate ourselves. Hospitals are in the business of making money. They might act really friendly, but it’s not out of charity!
An end note here: that awesome birthcenter had to STOP birthing babies. It was in a high malpractice state and they couldn’t afford the premiums anymore. So after years of building up a business and remodeling with state of the art equipment designed for comfort, they had to go back to just an ob-gyn care center. While pregnant with my 5th child, we lived in a state where you couldn’t even have a freestanding birthing center. You HAD to go to the hospital. Did you know that in the UK it’s ILLEGAL to have a home birth! There’s a good documentary about it. You can get arrested if you’re reported. Unbelievable. We live in a state now where it’s very difficult to have a homebirth because of how the law is written for credentials of midwives.
So speak up, be informed, and don’t let others think for you!
Cindy L.
I’m thankful I live in a time where i can ‘google’ things and read posts and comments like this. Its all thanks to women like you and Sarah (and all the other women who commented). A big THANK YOU to all of you for giving me inspiration and hope. Hope that I would love do to a home birth or birthing center birth, but that even if I have a higher risk pregnancy that a hospital CAN be a positive experience.
I hope however that my husband will be in support of all I want to do (or not do) and that he will stand up for me, as we are not planning on getting pregnant for a bit still. I also hope i can find a midwife or birthing center in my small rural area. This is all a new thing for even me, I just started looking into things and researching a few months ago. So i can imagine that my husband might have some concerns and i would bet he has never thought about going anywhere other than a hospital for having a baby. But knowing my personality, he can probly guess that I want an alternative experience.
Anyway, I just wanted to express my deep gratitude to all the women who shared their stories that I can learn from.
Real quick, someone please tell me what a DD and DS is? I saw those terms in Cindy’s comment and dont know what they stand for.
Dear Daughter and Dear Son I believe. DH = Dear Husband too.
Great list! I attend births both at home and in a birth center. I would like to inform your readers that reason #2 is not completely accurate. While it is true that birth centers are often closer to a hospital than many people’s homes are, it is not true that there is less medical equipment available at a home birth. Home birth midwives are “mobile birth centers”. I carry all the same medical equipment with me to home births that is available at the birth center.
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I’m hoping to have a waterbirth with my next baby.
My husband has worked in Newborn Screening for over 30 years. It’s not just a PKU test. Most states test for more than 30 disorders. The incidence of these metabolic disorders is low, but they do happen. With some disorders the baby gets extremely ill quickly and it is not easily diagnosed. The quick results of the newborn screening test have saved baby’s lives and prevented severe mental disabilities for many babies. I’ve heard countless stories of babies near death at the hospital, the diagnosis made and called in and the baby going home the next day. Yes, the heel stick can be painful, but this panel of tests is well worth that pain.
While rightly discarding some of the unnecessary things that medicine has foisted upon us we should be careful of ignoring the truly helpful.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/baby/bringinghome_screening.html
I had a mostly satisfying natural birth in a hospital with a certified nurse midwife. They had a tub, I was allowed to walk around and/or labor in the tub as I liked, after the initial 15 minute monitoring during intake. I was very clear on what I did not want, and both myself and my husband told and retold anyone who came in the room. Maybe it helped that it was 4am and not many people were there, but they pretty much left us alone unless we asked for something (like more hot water in the tub, or a towel, etc)
The only part I did not like (but wasn’t protesting much at the time, I was in trasition and just wanted to push!) was they put the monitor back on for the pushing/delivery, and the only way they could get a satisfactory sound of the heart was in a not so ideal position, so I did tear. But they left my bag of water alone until I was pushing
And my midwife was so gentle stiching me up, and then she brought me tea to my room afterwards.
This time, I am with another CNM in the same practice, but different branch/town. I am so pleased that they now allow complete water births, and so I am hoping my next birth will be even better.
Even if birthing centers are not an option where you live, if you choose your provider wisely and advocate for your self, you can have a satisfying experience elsewhere as well.
Oh, I’m so glad to be living in the Netherlands! Over here, pregnancies are generally guided by midwives who, unlike they seem to be in the US, are not viewed as “upscaled nurses” but run their own medical offices. Unless there are complications, then you go to an ob/gyn at a hospital. I am currently pregnant with my second and read that in the US the caeserean rate is 30%. Here it’s only 10%. The home birth rate, however, is 30%. Everyone gets a home nurse to help with the home birth (if you decide to deliver at home). She usually stays 8 days (4 full days, 4 half days). The midwife pays home visits on day 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. Everyone has medical insurance that covers this. The home nurse takes care of mother and baby (you don’t see moms with 2 day old babies at the grocery stores here) and does laundry, cleans the bathroom and makes lunch. It’s such a relaxed way of beginning your new life, and be able to focus on baby and breastfeeding.
It always amazes me to hear how such a natural thing as childbirth is so medicalized in the US.
I do have to remark that our country is much more densely populated, so the nearest hospital is never farther than approximately 10 miles away. In case of an emergency during home birth, it’s easy to reach the hospital if necessary.
Oh, I just re-read my comment… obviously the midwife is present at the home birth as well, not just the home nurse!
And @Jen: DD is Dear Daughter, DS is Dear Son.
I had my first baby in a birthing center with midwives. The labor was 26 hrs long. My baby was 9 lbs 14 oz, 22 inches long. I’m not a big person, maybe about 112 lbs pre pregnancy, and 5’3 tall. My baby also had her arm wrapped around her neck. That baby came out, I didn’t tear at all, not even a little. The midwives took such good care of me. It was painful, but the recovery was so easy. I was eating soup at my house 4 hrs after giving birth. My husband and I often talk about what would have happened to us if I had birthed in a hospital. I was taking so long, they would have pushed pitocin, it would have hurt so much, I would have needed an epidural, then I would have been severely cut because the baby was so big, or I would have been wheeled to the surgery room. I am so glad we went chose the route we did, we might homebirth for the next one. I’m a doc myself, so it was scary to choose something so radical at first, but now I’m just happy that I woke up in time. I read about 13 pregnancy books while pregnant, natural medicine, western medicine, everything, they all pretty much pointed to the same thing: too many drugs during a labor = not a good thing
For me, one reason for not having birth in a birthcenter is the cost. We are a low income family so we could not afford it. Hospital is out of the question, for I agree with you on all the points you provided against birthing in a hospital. I plan to have a homebirth because I can get a midwife from British National Health Service to attend it for free (I live in UK). Of course, I hope I’ll find a midwife who supports natural birth. Birthing center would be an option too if only I had the money for it.
Sarah, thank you for your post…it was very informative. I agree with basically everything you said, but wanted to give a different perspective. I looked into having my baby at a birthing center two years ago, but was unable to find one in my area. After doing a lot of research and reading the book, “The Big Book of Birth,” I made up a very specific birthing plan and talked it over with my doctor. I was sure to ask many questions about what she does in certain circumstances and why. I also was very assertive with the nurses and doctors at the hospital, not worrying about what they thought, but sticking with my plan. My husband was a great help, as he knew my plan and helped me stick with it. I had an amazing experience giving birth, even though I was in a hospital. I was able to move around, use a exercise ball, squatted while pushing, didn’t use any pain meds, avoided vaccinations, played music in my room (I highly recommend Jack Johnson! Perfect for giving birth!), and nursed right away. One thing that made me glad I was in a hospital was that my uterus had a difficult time contracting after I gave birth, and my doctor had to work quickly to get my bleeding under control. I’m sure this situation would have been handled well at a birthing center also, but maybe a more serious situation wouldn’t have. I don’t know. With that being said, I’m not trying to discourage anyone from using a birthing center….we actually have one in my area now, and I plan to look into it next time I’m pregnant. I just wanted to encourage anyone who needs/wants to give birth in a hospital….educate yourself, do your research, make a plan, get a doctor you love, and speak up….you may still be able to have the birth you’ve always dreamed of!
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/
I linked up to your site excited to find a new blog but as I have read through many of your posts it just seems like you think you know what is right for EVERYONE and you come across very bitter. You should keep in mind your personal opinions are not fact and stop reporting them that way.
Interesting. I take your comment to mean that you think newspapers and TV news are so full of fact and lacking any opinion as well? I find it amusing how people read what I write and think they know me personally.
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I am not sure where I ever said that I think newspapers and tvs tell the facts. That is an assumption you are clearly making. It seems to me if someone doesn’t buy your false propaganda hook line and sinker then we must all be stupid drones controlled by the media. The reason I said you are reporting your opinions like they are fact is because the list above is quite doable at a hospital. The majority of the people I know had hospital births and actually could do the majority of your list and had VERY positive experiences. That being said I think birthing centers are great too. I just don’t see the point of slanting your column in a way that makes it seem like if you go to a hospital they are going to vaccinate your baby, give them
sugar water, and refuse your preferences. Can that happen, yes. Can you die in a home birth or at a birthing center because you are not at a hospital. Yes. Anyways, I have said enough and will not be visiting your site again.
Thank you for such an inspiring reply! I have had two babies in the hospital, and I would definitely agree that the outcome depends alot on how strong you are in your convictions, and how much whoever is with you is vocally supportive. They will try to intervene with drugs if you let them. I hope to find a birth center the next time around.
I didn’t have the money for a midwife center or a home birth with my first, but I took the classes from the birth center, spent a good amount of time educating my hubby and found a great, awesome doula. I then had a great birthing experience in the hospital, I had a pushy resident, but my doctor shut her down when she tried to get pushy with things that were not in my birth plan, so we didn’t even have to. I don’t even remember my nurse because she was there but was totally inconspicuous and only stepped in to monitor the baby by doppler every so often and she was so respectful I barely even remember that! We had zero interventions, no offer of pain meds or epidurals, or even the pitocin shot after birth. The only thing was that the pediatrician was a little pushy about the Vitamin K shot, but was fine when we explained that we understood and knew to watch for signs of problems and declined. My daughter didn’t have a single needle stick and the only poke I had was for a blood count because I had lost a fair amount of blood. I can say though that I have worked in a hospital for 5 years and was very comfortable in the setting (NOT that I agree with several of the things that they do) so I was able to relax and have a great birth!
I was grateful we were in a hospital, my daughter had full shoulder distocia (her shoulder got stuck on my hip and her head was fully out) and the Doc was extremely experienced in this and had no problems reaching in and pulling her whole arm out and did it with out me tearing at all (I didn’t have a episiotomy) and without breaking my daughter’s clavicle! Note: I am sure many midwives are good at this also, but my doctor was really that great!
It can be done, but you have to stick up for yourself, your baby and have a plan and understand your rights as a patient and as a parent!
I have friend who was given an epidural without even asking in advance at the hospital, and it damaged a nerve; she has had months of physiotherapy just to be able to walk again, and she still limps and gets tired quickly…
Hi Sarah! (Great name
)Thank you for this article! I’m 10 weeks pregnant and not sure if I want a home birth or to go to a birthing center. I am going to start meeting midwifes and visiting birthing centers to make my decision. I live near you in the Tampa Bay Area (Dunedin) and was hoping you could share the name of the birthing center you used so that I could contact them. Thanks so much!!
Hi, I’m a labor and delivery nurse in a hospital and I truly found most of what you said about the “impatient” nurse wanting lunch offensive. No nurse in her right mind would tamper with a laboring woman’s bag of water. We try having the doctors avoid breaking it at all costs because we know it causes an increase in pain. I’ve never in all my years had a nurse “accidentally” vaccinate an infant against a parent’s wishes. That’s assault. There are plenty of hospitals that don’t give “lip service” to the “natural” patient. Patients who choose to labor without an epidural are my favorite. I’ve assisted in the delivery of many patients on their hands and knees, side, squating, and back. And what you remark about forceps truly does bother me. Forceps are an “in case of emergency” tool. No physician just wants to deliver a baby with forceps. I have never heard a patient say.. Ya know, thanks for saving my child’s life but I just really wish you wouldn’t have used those forceps. I would research a more professional opinion of I were going to deliver at home or in a birth center, this article is filled with antiquated information and opinion. I honestly wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened and my baby died during labor because I didn’t like the way hospitals smell.
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