Home Birth
Some women feel strongly about having their babies in their own homes where they can enjoy the comfort of family and familiar surroundings. Here they are in charge and there is little medical intervention. During labor they can get up, walk around, have a cup of tea, and talk to friends on the phone. Anything goes, and this is reassuring to many women. But if you are considering this option, be sure you understand all that it entails. It is advised only in low-risk pregnancies where there is little probability that something will go wrong. Still, few licensed providers will assist at a home birth because emergency medical equipment will not be on hand if there are unexpected complications during the birth of the baby. Your delivery therefore will most likely be in the hands of a midwife who will guide you through a natural birth. If you want a home birth, be sure to find a licensed midwife who is affiliated with a back-up physician and a nearby hospital in case anything goes wrong.
Traditional Hospital Rooms
In most hospitals all deliveries are handled routinely in four different rooms: Many hospitals across the country are moving away from this kind of birth setting to a more relaxing one.
The Birthing Room
Some hospitals and all freestanding birthing centers have birthing rooms (sometimes called LDRs for labor-delivery-recovery rooms). One of the advantages of a birthing room is that labor and delivery occur in the same place, rather than in several locations, as described above. In addition, birthing rooms are usually cozier and look more welcoming than regular hospital rooms. They often have personal showers and a place for visitors to sit. To create this homey feeling, the rooms do not contain as much medical equipment as the average hospital room. Therefore, birthing rooms are usually an option for only low-risk, uncomplicated deliveries. If you would like this kind of room, check with your doctor to make sure it fits your criteria. If you are considering a freestanding birthing center (a center not connected to a hospital), be sure you understand the medical limitations. Most are staffed by midwives only and cater to natural births. Little or no pain medication is available in a birthing center, nor can it provide for the needs of high-risk pregnancies that require the transferal of the mother and baby to a hospital if complications arise during delivery. To find a birthing center near you, log on to the website of the National Association of Childbearing Centers at www.birthcenters.org.
