Hospital Birthing Centers

[TrishWSU]

Has any one given birth in a natural birthing center within a hospital? How was it?

I am planning on becoming a surrogate and while I palan to UC my own future babies, I am willing to research other options as a surrogate (I know, I'm still the one giving birth, but it is someone else's baby.)

I refuse to give birth in a normal hospital maternity setting (unless there was a complication) but I would consider a natural birthing center within a hospital if they truly were natural focused.

TIA

[mamanurse]

It's so admirable that you're going to surrogate for a family in need.

I gave birth in a "Family Birth Center" that "strives" to empower women through taking control of their labor and birth. Personally, I think it's a load of crap. Due to my chronic health condition (lupus), it was impossible for me to find a homebirth midwife that was comfortable caring for me. Alas, I resided to have a hospital birth.

While my hospital birth was drug free, it was not without interventions (that I refused). We were only there 37 minutes before I delivered, but the nurse still managed to stick an internal fetal monitor in me and I also had an episiotomy against my will. When I said I didn't want the epis., the OB just said you've already torn anyway. Anywho, I don't think that giving birth in any hospital (even a "natural birthing center") is the way to achieve a drug-free and interventionless birth.

I hope this info. helps with your decision and I wish you luck.

[MamaTaraX]

I want to be a surrogate someday. Kudos to you!!

I gavebirth to mysecond at an in-hospital birth center. I had a fabulous experience. My husband caught our baby, myoldest son attended the birth, cut the cord,announced the sex. It was a wonderful compromise for my DH (The third was born home)

Namaste, Tara

[ETW]

I gave birth in a hospital "Alternative Birthing Center" attended by a CNM and had a really good experience. No one ever mentioned drugs even with a 5+ hour labor plateau, I had to sit with an external monitor for 10 minutes at check-in (I knew that going in) but after that all monitoring was with a hand doppler, I labored and gave birth in the water, ate and drank during labor (fridge in my room), no episiotomy, etc. It was just me, DH, my mother, and my midwife in the room most of the time -- and my mom and midwife mostly sat and observed quietly. A nurse came in while I was pushing, but again she just sat there and recorded the monitoring info my midwife gave her. The staff was very supportive and informed -- for example, I had decided not to make a fuss over eye ointment as long as it was delayed and the nurses actually told me it wasn't necessary. I had declined GBS testing and no one ever mentioned it. The room had a queen sized bed where DH, DS, and I spent the night together. The only downsides I would comment on are that when/if someone takes the baby to the nursery for a bath then you are subject to stupid nursery rules -- DH and DS got stuck in the nursery for about half an hour because they wanted DS under a heat lamp until his temperature reached some set level. Also, you're in a hospital which means hospital food, hospital check-out procedures, hospital LCs -- not the most relaxing way to spend baby's first day. I'm planning a homebirth next time, but my experience at the ABC was very positive.

[USAmma]

I gave birth in a hospital birthing center. I had an epidural, but other than that the nurses and doctor were respectful of my wishes and I had a great experience. I have heard that they allow moms to bring in their own birthing tubs for waterbirths if they want to! They had all the natural birth stuff on hand-- birth balls, rocking chairs, huge showers, and the rooms were very nice and big and comfortable with extra seating for support people.

[savithny]

My hospital birth center

The main OB practice in town has as many CNMs as MDs.

The hospital itself does not offer routine epidurals (it does offer intrathecals, and epidurals are available, but they're difficult to get because the floor does not have a dedicated anesthesiologist).

There's a hydrotherapy room with a big jetted tub. No routine heplock, no "nothing by mouth" rule, balls and rocking chairs available to those who want them. The hospital has a birth plan form that they request be filled out with a lot of *basic* natural birthers concerns (cord clamping, episiotomy, nursing, no nursery visits, etc) and they really do read it. CFM is not routine, nor did I have to wear an EFM at any time after my initial check in (while they were filling out the admit forms). They do now, unfortunately, have some somewhat coercive policies regarding Group B strep antibiotics which I'm told are insurance related

I was asked on checkin with my first delivery if I was interested in medications, and no one mentioned it again when I said no. I got to push and deliver upright both times. They're willing to deliver in the tub if the mother wants it, and you can go in the tub with an IV if its securely covered. When my water broke with my first, there was light meconium, but that did not require he be taken to the nursery or even taken away from me.

A lot of the nurses are LCs, they encouraged immediate nursing, I got what I know now was good, competent nursing advice, and I was never offered formula. The hospital adheres to the WHO standards about formula marketing and I was not sent home with a "Gift" diaper bag full of "free samples."

The more stories I read here, the luckier I feel about my hospital births!

[annethcz]

IME (my own births and attending the births of a few friends), hospital 'birthing centers' are just pretty hospitals.

Of course, it will depend on the exact hospital you are using. And your care provider will make a big difference. I'd suggest asking around and interviewing care providers to find out what the climate of that particular hospital is really like.

[orangebird]

I think it varies by "birth center". I had my first baby in one. On the tour it sounded great. My doc was down with the whole natural/leboyer thing. From the moment I stepped in the door the nurses were very pushy, not letting me out of bed and telling me I needed to get an epiural or my baby might die. Blech. My XDH's wife just gave birth in the same hospital. She had a pretty hard time too. She did manage to not get the drugs but said it was really hard arguing with and beating off the nurses I admire her, she has pulled off 3 hospital births totally natural. I don't trust them or myself in that setting so I have stayed home for the rest of my births.

But in short, it's totally possible to have a natural labor in one of those places (though statistically I don't think they have that many more totally hands off births than regular L&Ds) but you might still have to spend alot of your labor in battle. Or maybe not, alot of it must also depend on luck- which nurse you get. Anyway, the best of luck to you.

Bring soldiers with you who are prepared for battle.

[USAmma]

Originally Posted by annethcz

IME (my own births and attending the births of a few friends), hospital 'birthing centers' are just pretty hospitals.

I agree! As good as my birth was, and as pretty as the rooms were, it was still a hospital. They had a 30% c-section rate, most of them scheduled c-sections. They had all the pain meds and monitors a person might want.

OTOH they pretty much required rooming in unless the baby was sick (and thus be transferred to a state of the art hospital up the street with a good NICU). They did not take high risk births including multiples.

[TrishWSU]

Thank you all for responses! I actually just heard from the Intended Mom (IM-there are a ton of accronyms in the surro world!) and they are totally cool with a homebirth. They both totally agree with my wishes for a intervention free, hands off birth.

Her husband was a physican in Pakistan but didn't become certified or licensed or whatever when he came to the States 10 years ago. She said he will help in the delivering or just sit back in corner it's up to me! And I do want them to be as invovled as possible since it is their baby. He has attended births when he was in school, but not since. So I will still be getting to UC in a way!

I feel so blessed to be able to connect so well with this couple and help bring them the baby they so desire.

[orangebird]

Wow, what a super amazing development! You are all so blessed to have eachother