Birth centers are a great option for having your baby. Their focus is on giving you a natural, family centered experience.
A birth center provides a higher level of backup and access to intervention than a home birth does - you may feel more comfortable with birthing in this setting.
They're usually free standing, though some are housed within hospitals. They are mostly staffed by midwives; often Certified Nurse Midwives.
Your prenatal care may be at the birth center, or it may be at your care provider's office.
Some birth center midwives also do home births. If that is the case at yours you'll go to the birth center for prenatals and have your baby at home.
You're assessed for risk before you have a birth center birth, similar to the assessment given for a home birth.
Focus on taking care of yourself: good prenatal diet, moderate exercise, and getting enough rest will help you to stay low risk. If you develop pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or other pregnancy complications, you could be "risked out" and referred to the hospital for birthing.
Some birth centers will also transfer you to hospital care if your baby is breech or if you're carrying twins.
You'll most likely see a midwife for prenatal care - and your appointments will be as long as you need them..
You may do your own urine and weight checks when you first arrive at your appointments, and some midwives have you fill in your own chart. Other midwives will get your numbers themselves. All of this will help you become very familiar with what is going on with your own body. One advantage of choosing a birth center is the ability to have most of your blood work done on site.
You'll get to know your midwife (or midwives) or perhaps the ob on staff. You'll also become very familiar with the building itself. You'll check out the labor rooms and spend time in the "family-style" room or kitchen.
Birth centers have a warm atmosphere and you may get to meet and chat with parents and their newborns at your prenatals. You might also meet parents coming back in for their postpartum checks and for family planning counseling. This can be a great opportunity to talk to them about their experiences.
Most birth centers have an extensive lending library of books and videos - a great thing! Many offer childbirth education classes as well. These can be a great way to meet other parents due around the same time as you who are also planning natural births.
A birth center offers a homelike environment for you to birth in. You can act much more naturally than if you were in a hospital and barred by their rules and procedures. Your birthing room is set up like a normal room instead of a hospital room. You can wear your own clothing!
You're able to walk around as you want to, changing positions at will. You can eat and drink if you wish to. Your birth center may have a jacuzzi tub or shower that you can labor in if you'd like. You may be able to give birth in the tub.
You can have anybody you want there with you. You might want your older children at the birth and most birth centers will welcome them.
There might be a "family room" for your older children to play in if they don't want to be in the labor room with you. The bed is big enough for your partner to curl up with you should you need him.
Your family also has access to the kitchen to cook food for themselves or for you. You can enjoy anything you want and aren't limited to institutional foods.
You'll probably be able to check out much more quickly than you would the hospital - 12 to 24 hours after birth is the general rule.
A birth center offers a few more options than a home birth. It probably has an IV available should you need one. There may also be pain relief medications that you can opt to have.
A birth center may also have a warmer for your baby. There may be a special newborn transport unit set up in case your baby needs to transfer to the hospital.
You will most likely be cared for by your midwife (or OB) and a registered nurse. They'll stay with you throughout your labor and your baby's birth. This continuity of care is very reassuring during your labor and birth.
You will find a lot of similarities to homebirth. Your baby will be monitored by Doppler (a small ultrasound device that picks up your baby's heartbeat). There will be infant resuscitation equipment available in case your baby needs it, just like a homebirth midwife would carry or would be available at the hospital.
Hospital backup is already arranged in case there is a need for transfer. Your CNM may have privileges at the hospital, so she can go with you if you need to transfer.
You cannot have an epidural block or spinal anesthesia at a birth center. You also can't have oxytocin (Pitocin) to augment your labor (though you probably can get a shot of Pitocin to help your uterus contract after your baby is born, if needed).
You get a lot of support from the midwives and nurses caring for you. They can help you cope with any pain you're experiencing.
Your greater freedom means that you can cope with pain better than if you're stuck in a hospital bed with an IV or heplock and a fetal monitoring belt. There's no chance of a fetal monitor being screwed into your baby's skull.
If your labor is slow or stalled, your midwives will encourage you to move around and change positions. They try many different techniques to get your labor going. They may also send you home if your labor doesn't seem to be quite ready to start yet.
After baby is born you'll be with him immediately. Your baby will be put on your chest unless he needs help getting started (and even then, it may be done right on your chest).
All newborn procedures will be delayed so you have time to get acquainted - they will be done right in front of you when they are done.
You'll be able to go home quickly. Your midwife may come and do a home visit for your baby after you go home. Some will come several days. Your birth center will advise you about when you should take your baby in to see her pediatrician or your family doctor - usually within a week after birth.
Your postpartum check is around 6 weeks after birth to make sure that everything is looking good. They will also provide advice and care after your baby's birth if you need it.
Many birth centers offer family planning services and counseling, which may be more sensitive and natural than those offered at the local OB/GYN.
Click Here to read stories from moms who had great birth center births.
Choose your birth center carefully. Interview your midwife, nurse midwife, or doctor as carefully as you would if you were considering a homebirth midwife or a hospital provider.
You'll also want to ask plenty of questions about procedures and get referrals. Talk to other moms who have had births there and see what their feelings are.
Make sure that you like the atmosphere and the way the actual building is set up. It should be clean and well-kept. See if it offers a kitchen, living room area, and a lending library.
Find out if your birth center is accredited and what the credentials of the care providers at the center are. Take these into consideration.
Also consider the level of service and professionalism. Don't exclude a center that you love the feel of and that has great reviews just because not all the care providers are certified nurse midwives. Direct-entry and Certified Professional Midwives can and do offer excellent care. Ask for references from past clients.
Always ask about hospital backup and what makes the center decide to transfer your care, either before or during labor. Ask if your midwife will stay with you at the hospital if you have to be transferred during labor.
Ask about costs and find out if your insurance will help you cover the cost of the birth. Find out if any payment plans are allowed. Many accredited birth centers in the United States can be paid for with Medicaid benefits, and with Champus (Tricare).
A birth center can be an excellent choice for you. It offers a unique atmosphere - a loving atmosphere. A birth center fosters a sense of community.
If you are looking for a great natural birth and a little more backup than a homebirth provides, or if you have a partner who is nervous about a homebirth, a birth center is a great choice.
Visit the National Association of Childbearing Centers for a listing of birth centers they've accredited (link opens in a new browser window.) There is also general information and a few birth center video clips on the site.
If you're considering a birth center birth, you may also want to read the pages on homebirth.
Want to know that you're prepared for your birth completely - no matter where you've chosen to have it? The Pink Kit will give you the skills you need to take control of your own experience. Enjoy confidence by preparing for your birth center birth with The Pink Kit.
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