Is a Birthing Center right for you?

Women who choose birth centers for delivery have already made
the decision for a natural childbirth experience. Birth centers
offer a more "home like" feel as opposed to, how some women put
it "clinical feel" of the hospital. These centers provide an
option that is more centered around family and gives the
laboring Mom more choices about how she wants her labor to
proceed. Freedom of movement, a comfortable environment and not
being moved from room to room is appealing to some Moms. Most
likely a midwife will be present, and some have an OB on call
for special situations. Please check with your local center. 



Comfortable environment No IV, enema's, or episiotomies 

Monitoring with a handheld device as opposed to having to sit in
bed to be monitored 

Mom feels more sense of control over her labor 

No epidural 

C-section rate is lower in birth center 

Mom chooses who she wants present Freedom of movement no
separation of mother and baby 

 The following is an example of some statistics from a a birth
center in Holladay Utah, Birth and Family Place.....

Safety of a Birth Center Birth: The Birth and Family Place has
been open since May of 2002 and the following statistics are a
compilation of all admissions since opening. 



88% of all admitted clients successfully delivered at the birth
center

 11.7% of admitted patients were transferred to the hospital
during labor

 Overall C-section rate is 3.6% 

 2% of patients were transferred to the hospital after the birth

 1.5% of newborns were transferred to the hospital 

 0% Maternal Mortality Rate

 0% Fetal Mortality Rate 

 0% Neonatal Mortality Rate 

 By result of our anonymous client satisfaction surveys, 100% of
the patients stated they would refer friends and family to Birth
and Family Place

 This is just a sample of some of the statistics of a birthing
center for your information...

Please fully investigate and ask around to other patients of
that center about their birth experience. Some people don't
realize that most birthing centers are covered under many
insurance plans.

If you have made the decision to use a birth center, this is
most likely where you will receive your prenatal care. You will
most likely be cared for by a Midwife. Midwives who care for
Mother's in the Birthing center are focused on providing the
mother with lots of support for her natural childbirth
experience.