| Pregnant women and their families have a couple | | | | labor or delivery. |
| other options other than a conventional hospital | | | | Who will deliver a baby at home?o Some certified |
| when deciding where to labor and deliver children. | | | | nurse midwives and physicians will deliver babies |
| Those options include:o Birthing Centerso | | | | at home |
| Homebirth | | | | Before you finalize your decision about having a |
| A birth center gives women a comfortable, | | | | baby at home be sure to check with your health |
| home-like environment in which to give birth. The | | | | insurance company. Some insurance companies will |
| concept is to make labor and delivery an extra | | | | not cover the cost of care for home births. |
| special, warm, and family-focused process. A | | | | Are homebirths common?o Planned homebirths in |
| certified nurse-midwife and not an obstetrician | | | | the United States are still controversialo |
| usually deliver babies at birth centers. Healthy | | | | Homebirths are common in many European |
| women with low risk factors for problems during | | | | countries |
| pregnancy, labor and delivery may choose a birth | | | | You should realize that the American College of |
| center for labor and delivery. | | | | Obstetricians and Gynecologist is against |
| What to expect in a birth center:o No routine | | | | homebirths. This organization states that hospitals |
| medical procedureso You will not be automatically | | | | are the safest place to deliver a baby. This is |
| hooked up to an IVo You will not have an | | | | especially true in the case of an emergency. The |
| electronic fetal monitor around your belly the | | | | hospital's equipment and highly trained physicians |
| whole timeo The midwife or nurse will check your | | | | can provide the best care for a woman and her |
| baby with a handheld machineo After birth, all | | | | baby. |
| examinations and care occurs in your roomo A | | | | What are the advantages of homebirth?o You will |
| natural and personal process of labor and delivery | | | | be able to experience labor and delivery in the |
| without most high-tech equipment and routine | | | | privacy and comfort of your homeo With no |
| procedureso You will not receive epidurals at a | | | | routine medical procedures, you are able to have |
| birth center; however, some pain medications | | | | complete control of your experience |
| may be available.o If a cesarean section becomes | | | | What are the disadvantages of homebirth?o In |
| necessary, women must be moved to a hospital | | | | case of a problem, you and the baby will not |
| for the procedure.o Basic emergency care is | | | | have immediate hospital/medical care. You and |
| performed on babies with problems while they | | | | the baby will have to wait until transfer to the |
| are being moved to a hospitalo Some birthing | | | | hospitalo Women who deliver at home have no |
| centers have showers or tubs in their rooms for | | | | options for pain relief |
| laboring women.o Birthing centers tend to have | | | | What are some of the things you should consider |
| large beds and rocking chairs to resemble the | | | | before planning a homebirth?o You must have a |
| comforts of homeo Usually birth centers allow | | | | highly trained and experienced midwife and a |
| more people in the delivery room than do | | | | fail-safe back-up plan to ensure your safety and |
| hospitals | | | | that of your babyo Fast and reliable transportation |
| Where can you find a birthing center? | | | | to a hospital if neededo If you live very far from |
| Birth Centers can be found:o Inside of hospitalso | | | | a hospital, homebirth may not be the best choiceo |
| Affiliated with a hospitalo Completely independent | | | | The midwife you choose should be experienced |
| and separate facilities | | | | and have the necessary skills and supplies to start |
| If you are interested in a birth center to labor and | | | | emergency care for you and the baby if neededo |
| deliver your baby what is one of the most | | | | The midwife you choose should have access to a |
| important things for you to be sure of?o You | | | | physician 24 hours a day |
| should be sure the birthing center you choose is | | | | Source: National Institutes of Health Online |
| accredited by the Commission for the | | | | Disclaimer: These statements have not been |
| Accreditation of Birth Centers. An accredited birth | | | | evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. |
| center must have affiliated doctors at a nearby | | | | The information in this article is not intended to |
| hospital to tend to problems with the mom or | | | | diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All |
| baby. | | | | health concerns should be addressed by a qualified |
| Homebirth | | | | health care professional. |
| Who are good candidates for labor and delivery at | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the resource |
| home?o A healthy pregnant woman with no risk | | | | box. |
| factors for complications during the pregnancy, | | | | |