Why a Birth Center?
If you do not want to give birth in a hospital, but you’re too afraid to try a homebirth, giving birth in a birth center might be the solution for you. A birth center can provide you with the environment and surroundings you are looking for, but still offer medical support if needed. Birth centers can be in an independent location, or within a hospital. A certified nurse-midwife will assist you with the majority of your care at the birth center, although a physician is usually on call in case of an emergency.
Benefits of a Birth Center
A birth center offers you a comfortable, relaxed location to have your baby. They are usually more open to allowing you to try various positions and labor techniques, and will not intervene or suggest pain medication unless requested. You will typically labor, deliver, and recover in the same room. You will receive support for your labor, birth, and breastfeeding at a birth center.
Drawbacks of a Birth Center
The drawbacks of a birth center arise if there are any complications during labor or delivery or if your newborn needs any medical attention – you might need to be transfered to a medical facility or to the labor and delivery floor within your hospital (this happened to me during the birth of my first daughter!)
Make sure to contact your insurance about whether or not a birth center is covered under your plan. You may need to make other arrangements for prenatal care and then switch to a birth center for the delivery if the birth center is not covered.
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