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UCSD Birth Center vs Best Start

Nicky2Nicky2
in San Diego Babies

I'm currently about 6 months pregnant with my first child and I've been seeing the midwives at UCSD and planning a natural birth in their in-hospital birth center, but when I went on the tour of the birthing rooms I was a little disappointed with how much they felt like hospital rooms, only with nicer furniture.  I decided to go on a tour of Best Start to compare and I did like the non-hospital atmosphere, though there seem to be some mixed reviews of the midwives there.  Now I can't decide which one I would rather give birth in.  Aside from the hospital feel to the birth rooms, I've been happy with the midwives at UCSD, but I do worry that unnecessary interventions could happen more easily just because it is part of a hospital.  Does anyone have any recent experiences with either birth center?  Anything anyone can tell me about either one would be much appreciated. 

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Re: UCSD Birth Center vs Best Start

  • autumnstar1autumnstar1

    I gave birth at UCSD with my first child in August of 2010 (and am seeing them for my current pregnancy) - I was a midwife/birth center patient.

    The night I went into labor the birth center was actually full. This was almost unheard of, so I was admitted into Labor & Delivery until a room could open up for me. I was attended by the midwife in L&D, and I had access to almost everything a normal birth center patient had except the birth tub and of course my room was more hospital-like then the birth center.

    Anyway, I had so much back labor pain I asked for an epidural. The midwives suggested so many other pain relief methods (shower, doula, birth ball, etc.) to try first (I did try some, but in the end went for the epidural anyway). I ended up having a few issues (baby's heart rate was dropping during contractions/pushing) and they had a physician come to check me. He was very, very nice, came in and told me that he understood that I was a birth center patient and that they would do everything they could to give me the birth I wanted. He then explained that they were worried that the baby wasn't moving down the birth canal, and if his heart rate kept dropping during contractions and he wasn't moving I may need the vacuum or a c-section. He checked me briefly, told me to push hard in the next two pushes and after I did that he said, this baby is coming out naturally, and left me to it with my midwife.

     So. I feel that they do everything in their power to avoid unnecessary interventions. If you're concerned, ask them. Ask how many of the birth center patients end up having interventions (I asked when I was there for my first, it was really low, they pride themselves on that).

    I liked that the birthing center was attached to a hospital, so if anything went wrong I'd have full medical access. I liked that no matter where I gave birth a midwife would deliver my baby and that they would do everything they could to see to it that I had the birth I wanted (even if I did end up having an epidural).

     I hope that whole lengthy reply helps you some. :)

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  • tjts12tjts12 member
    I'm currently 23 weeks and have decided to give birth at Best Start. While I never went on a tour of UCSD, I feel like I made the right choice. Every midwife I have met, so far, has been really great. I love the homey feel it has, and I feel very secure knowing if anything happened, or if I changed my mind about an epidural, I would be immediately taken to UCSD.
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  • leashdolanleashdolan

     I gave birth at UCSD in March 2010 and I am planning on giving birth there again now that I am expecting my second. I moved to SD when I was already 8 months pregnant and all of the midwives I met were excellent and took time to really evaluate my chart  and history.  What really sold me on UCSD was the free doula service they offer.  I knew going natural was going to be hard and holy heck, it was considering my 37.5 hour back labor.  The doulas were AMAZING in suggesting different positions to get the baby to turn and to relieve the pain.  I mean we are talking putting a stool in the tub and having me do lunges on it to get the baby to turn.  That for sure was not in any birthing books I read! In any case, it comes down to where you think you will be most relaxed. 

    One reason I chose UCSD was because my husband was uncertain about natural child-birth and midwifery in general.  Giving birth at a birth center that is located in a hospital gave him piece of mind which made him much more relaxed about the process.

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  • jonesdouglasjonesdouglas

    I've visited both places and must say I am choosing to give birth at UCSD birthing center.

    I didnt love the atmosphere at Best Start and also didnt love the service I had received on the day of my tour. 

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