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I'm concerned about the waiver and questions at a birth center in my area. What do you think?

nofrogsnofrogs member
in 2nd Trimester
Here is the question that really got to me...would this make you wary of birthing here? "You may not be able to answer this, but try to think through the question. How do you think you
might deal with the situation of a baby or mother who suffered permanent injury or died at the birth
center or at the hospital?"

I asked if they have ever had a brain injury, and I felt like they avoided the question. They said they have never had a death. That's not what I asked. I know that brain injury is no joke, and I wanted data, which they could not provide. I want a natural birth, so I am really on the fence about it.
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Re: I'm concerned about the waiver and questions at a birth center in my area. What do you think?

  • csy2947csy2947 member
    This is always a risk when you're giving birth. That risk is magnified when you don't have immediate access to hospital facilities. For me that meant giving birth in a hospital and a hospital with a NICU was a very high priority. That said, most low risk pregnancies will have uneventful births. It mostly depends on your own comfort for this risk threshold. Do what's best for your but it's good that they are asking because it's definitely a risk your should weigh and make an educated decision about. Good luck!
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  • Miz_LizMiz_Liz member
    If you are already weary and not feeling comfortable with the place, then maybe it isn't the right option for you. I would suggest you visit other local centers and/or hospitals in your area that are your other options and see how you feel about each of them. Go with what feels right for you. I personally would never want to deliver anywhere but a hospital (but my hospital also has a birthing center attached to it where you can have the more "home birth" type of experience without actually being home), but that is just me and I have heard too many horror stories to risk it.
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  • nofrogsnofrogs member
    That's so cool. I would love a birth center attached to a hospital. 
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  • Miz_LizMiz_Liz member
    Check around to see if any of yours have one like that. I think that mine calls it the "ABC" or something - Alternate Birthing Center.
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  • holli0801holli0801 member
    What?! Yeah it's always a risk, but that question seems like-- how likely are you to sue us? ...there are a lot of different brain injuries that can happen during birth. So if you do get data make sure you know what you're asking for.... BI from anoxia, instruments, surgery etc. And those are going to be soft numbers... Most BI isn't diagnosed until later...
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  • nofrogsnofrogs member
    Oh interesting. That is a good point.
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  • Miz_LizMiz_Liz member
    The other thing to keep in mind is you can still have a med free birth at a hospital. Many have birthing rooms with attached baths too in case you want to get in a tub while you labor.
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  • jenboston22jenboston22 member
    edited April 2015
    I agree with @hollieileen; it definitely sounds like they're worried about being sued! It's certainly important for them to inform you of what may go wrong (just like a hospital would), but the way this is worded, it seems like they're more worried about trying to protect their business. Personally I'd look somewhere else.
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  • pixieprincsspixieprincss member
    edited April 2015
    I think their phrasing is poor, but the nature of the question is  a fair question for a non-hospital birth (though it sounds like this is connected to a hospital, so that part is a bit odd to me). This will be my second non-hospital birth coming up and discussing the (small) risks is part of the "informed consent" process for both legal and ethical reasons. Frankly, hospitals (at least in my state) have a version of same thing, but it is so buried in mountains of paperwork that it is glossed over and isn't an actual conversation.

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    More Green For Less Green

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  • LaurenNKLaurenNK member
    I'm using a stand-alone birthing center in Portland, OR.
    On my initial evaluation visit they gave me a statistics sheet that summarize their transfer rates and the reasons for the transfers as well as their mortality rates.
    One of the waives was basically "I understand that midwives don't carry liability insurance, I am choosing to birth this way and take responsibility for that decision".  It sounds like they are trying to gauge your reaction to that being a possible outcome, but are doing so in a very tasteless way.
    I would look for another center after the way they dodged your question.  They should be very open and forthcoming with any info you request.  If you want an alternative type birth, don't let an experience with one center sour you on that path.  Give another place a visit and see how that goes  :)
    TTC April 2012 
    BFP: Valentine's Day 2015!!!
    DUE:  late October 2015

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  • nofrogsnofrogs member
    Yeah, I wish I had another birth center in my area that would be covered by my insurance (the birth center is over 10k, so there is no way we can pay out of pocket). 
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