Birth Center vs. Hospital

lizztheo

Can somebody please help me think of all the pros and cons of a Birth Center vs Hospital birth? I had a natural birth with my son in the hospital. The hospital is one of the few that has a birth center in the hospital but I had to go to regular L&D because of low amniotic fluid levels. I was hooked up to an IV and continuous monitoring and did not have the best birth experience but ultimately did get a natural birth (with some IV pain meds). I would aim for this birth center/hospital again but it is an hour away and with a LO at home this time, it's just not an option. However, there is a new birth center opening 15 minutes from our home-- even closer than the hospital we were planning on delivering at. The major downside is in case of an emergency, I would be transferred to a hospital that I absolutely hate and am definitely trying to avoid (higher than average C/S rate, not baby friendly hospital). The big bonus of a birth center for me is that you are typically allowed to go home within 6-8 hours after birth. I left 28 hours after I had my LO and I am pretty sure I signed papers leaving against medical advice because they wanted me to stay 48 hours (for absolutely no reason other than it was their policy for l&d births; if I was in the birth center it would have been 6-8hours). What are the other main pros and cons that I am missing?

Rrrrrachel

I loved delivering at a birth center. The possibility of transfer is the biggest con. More flexibility and basically no insisting on interventions because they're "routine" are the pros. I wanted to just be left alone to labor and that's what I got! Plus the giant tub.

natalie202

Talk to the birth center about what happens if you have to transfer care. Tell them your concerns about the hospital they transfer to. They might have some very reassuring answers for you. My birth center is right next to a hospital that would not be my first choice to deliver at... but if I'd had to transfer, the midwives would have still delivered me at the hospital OR I would have delivered with their very supportive on call OB (and still with one of the midwives at my side). And that made it okay, as they would have buffered me from much of what I don't like about the hospital.

rooftop

natalie202 said:

Talk to the birth center about what happens if you have to transfer care. Tell them your concerns about the hospital they transfer to. They might have some very reassuring answers for you. My birth center is right next to a hospital that would not be my first choice to deliver at... but if I'd had to transfer, the midwives would have still delivered me at the hospital OR I would have delivered with their very supportive on call OB (and still with one of the midwives at my side). And that made it okay, as they would have buffered me from much of what I don't like about the hospital.

all this. knowing the birth center policies is key in making a decision like this