- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Natural Birth
nomaderica22
member
Hospital or Birth Center?
nomaderica22
member
Just wondering if you would recommend birthing in a hospital or a birth center? I know it is personal preference, but if you had the option of using a birth center would that be/have been your choice and why or why not?
Also, if you switched practices later in your pregnancy, what did you tell your original OB?
Last, how far would you say is too far to travel to get to your delivery center/hospital? (The closest birth center option is an hour away with potential for bad traffic depending on time of day and hospital is 30 minutes)
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Hospital or Birth Center?
I delivered at a birth center 90 mins from my house. I was worried about traffic because I had to drive on a major highway and go past a huge mall to get there and was due a week before Xmas. I was so afraid the holiday shopping traffic would cause me to be stuck on the highway for 3 hours. But I went in in the middle of the night so it was fine.
I chose the birth center because I didn't even want to have to deal with an IV and all the hospital rules. I was allowed to wear what I wanted, eat, drink, walk around, and go from tub to bed and back again. It was a great experience.
My first was a med-free midwife attended hospital birth - with that pregnancy I actually did switch around 35 weeks to the midwives from an OB. Actually though my OB suggested it knowing I wanted a med-free birth.
My second was at a free-standing birth center. Both it and the hospital were a 30 minute drive for us. I've had several friends drive an hour to deliver at this birth center.
I preferred the birth center as it was so much more relaxed and laid back - I was the only birthing mother there at the time. I also liked that we could go home within hours (as it turned out Eleanor had to have a non-emergency NICU transfer so we ended up in the hospital even longer). I had a really good hospital experience though as it's a very baby friendly hospital.
Ultimately I think I would go with the provider I felt most comfortable with. While my first choice here would be the birth center if we have another, I would be comfortable with another hospital birth as well.
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
Babywearing Guide ** Newborn Carriers
Cloth Diaper Guide
Safe Bed Sharing Info
You should choose the place were you feel most comfortable. I chose a hospital because if something happened I did not want to be transported by ambulance. Plus I worried that if something happened to the baby I wanted the NICU team to be right there. So for me safety was a big concern. You can have a natural birth in a hospital with an OB- I did. You just have to choose the right OB who supports natural birth.
As for the travel time I would choose something close to you. I stayed home for a long time and waited to go to the hospital. Our hospital was 10 mins away and the contractions in the car were HORRIBLE. I couldnt move and that made them even worse. So you might want to consider how long you plan to stay home and how far your drive is when considering your birth place. If you go to the birthing center you may want to leave earlier in labor to go to the center, whereas with the hopsital you could stay home longer.