Birth Center vs Homebirth? Do They Even Compare?

[Funny Face]

I haven't decided much of anything definitely. I want a homebirth but if medicaid (IF we get medicaid) only pays for a birth center I feel that I should at least consider it. Also, our apartment has a little dinky tub which will make laboring or birthing in the tub impossible. (we can't afford a tub and I'm not sure there is even room in our apt if we could) Did anyone go to the birth center and regret it during labor? Last time being in the car was the WORST part but this bc is much closer and wouldn't take long to get there. Anyone have advice? What were the positives, what were the negatives? If we are against the wall we might be able to pay for a hb but with all of our debt and me being in school it doesn't feel wise.

[alegna]

IMO there are 3 big problems with Birth Centers:

1. Regulations. Lots and lots of rules. If _____ you have to transfer. If ______ you have to transfer. etc....

2. Getting in the car in labor. No thank you.

3. Getting in the car, packing up a new baby, *dealing* instead of heading straight to bed to get to know eachother.

-Angela

[pamamidwife]

to add what Angela said already -

Home has YOUR bacteria. Anywhere else increases the risk of being exposed to something that your body is NOT used to.

Home is YOUR space. YOU are in charge there. The people in your home are guests. At a birth center, you are on someone else's turf.


And, yeah, driving in labor and then packing up my brand new baby in a carseat just sounds unappealing.

[babsbob]

I've only had a homebirth - but I can't imagine going anywhere while I'm in labor and then having to pack up baby to come home again. It's so much less stressful to have your baby in your own home along with all the other above mentioned benefits.

I don't know how set you are about a tub - I spend most of the day setting up and filling my aquadoula tub last time that I never even used. I have heard of people using a kiddie pool though - you could look into that.

I highly recommend homebirth if you can swing it.

[MonicaS]

The main reason I chose HB over BC(I lost my choice when the BC closed, but I had already made my decision by then) was b/c I did NOT want to go anywhere in labor! The rest of the stuff is pretty much the same, as far as equipment goes.

I also like the idea of our baby only having to be exposed to our familiar germs, but that info came long after having my last baby.

[ma_Donna]

The fishy pools are just fine IMO. I got a big one at toys r us for laboring ($17, set up on the deck) and the small one online for birthing (which I didn't end up doing, it was set up inside and did get the room nice and tropical)

I was all-in for the birth center the first time around, the space was great, not too far from home, fantastic big tub with jets - unfortunately we risked out and ended up at the hospital.

Second time around, it was more about having one kid already and not wanting to leave him for the process, even to the birth center. DS1 woke up for the last couple of pushes - I totally lucked out!

Do what feels right to YOU!

Good luck!

[ckhagen]

I had my VBAC in a free-standing birth center.
I really wanted to HB, but it wasn't an option because the only HB midwife was two hours away (where the FSBC is). She can't travel two hours to births because she has a very full schedule of moms and can't be stuck out here if someone out there goes into labor at the same time. Also, I'm 45 minutes from the closest hospital and with a VBAC, that's somewhat concerning.

Anyhow...
My birth there was incredible. I think it REALLY depends on the birth center though. In my case it was as close to a homebirth as anything ever could be. I did have to drive two hours in labor, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined.

We stayed for four hours after the birth and then packed up and went to a nice hotel for the night before driving home the next day. Sure, it would have been nice to have been at home and to have just stayed there, but that was the card I was dealt and honestly, it wasn't a big deal at all for me.

There are of course some really good reasons to pick homebirth over BC birth... the germs issue being one. I didn't feel like I wasn't in my own space at all. I felt very empowered to do what I wanted as if it were my own home. Of course, that could vary with the MW and BC. Overall it was a great experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[shelleyd]

I gave birth to my dd in a FSBC. My mw also attends hbs. She has no different rules or regulations if you birth at home vs. the bc. No risking out for anything that wouldn't risk you out of a hb as well. Nobody was there except dh, my mw and her apprentice. I felt very comfortable and the tub there was amazing and we just couldn't swing a tub at our home.

Driving in labor wasn't fun but wasn't horrible. SInce I wasn't worried about being on the clock or anything, I didn't feel the need to stay home as long as possible. I went to the bc in active labor, but not nearly ready to push or anything. The bc is close to my home, so it was a short drive. Incidentally, I also drove to my parent's home and back to celebrate Christmas while in labor so I'd have been driving in labor even if I'd had a hb!

Dealing with the carseat and all was a PITA but again, not the end of the world.

So if it is a good option for other reasons, the driving and carseat business aren't deal breakers in my opinion.

Good luck

Shelley

[erin_brycesmom]

I have decided to pay 100% out of pocket for a homebirth even though I could get the birth fully covered if I used our local birth center. THere is just no way I will get the kind of birth I want for me and my baby in a birth center. I'm sure they are much better than most hospitals but I do not believe they hold a candle to homebirth.

[ckhagen]

Originally Posted by shelleyd

I gave birth to my dd in a FSBC. My mw also attends hbs. She has no different rules or regulations if you birth at home vs. the bc. No risking out for anything that wouldn't risk you out of a hb as well. Nobody was there except dh, my mw and her apprentice. I felt very comfortable and the tub there was amazing and we just couldn't swing a tub at our home.

Same here.
That's why I said I think it totally depends on the MW and BC. There were no restrictions applied to BC patients where I was. It was literally like homebirth in someone elses home. Someone totally on board for that matter. I've had a hospital birth and in no way shape or form did it even come close to resembling being in a hospital. I labored at home for 20 hours and then in the BC for another 15.

I'm just saying... don't rule it out. Just make sure you ask good comparison questions. My mw was very specific about declaring that it would be a homebirth by all standards with the exception of the location not being MY home.

[shelleyd]

Originally Posted by ckhagen

Same here.

I'm just saying... don't rule it out. Just make sure you ask good comparison questions. My mw was very specific about declaring that it would be a homebirth by all standards with the exception of the location not being MY home.

My mw also said that "you can have your homebirth here". I know that all bcs are not equal but to me, it was similar to someone that goes to a hotel for their "homebirth".

Shelley

[redhotmama]

After working in L&D for two years and having an unmedicated hospital birth with dd1, I thought my birth center birth with dd2 was awesome.
Then...I had a home birth with dd3.
No comparison.
I will never consider leaving my home while in labor ever again, God willing. I am a total birth snob now, my HB was absolutley AMAZING.

[xmysticprincessx]

birth where YOU feel comfortable. there's mamas here who would never dream of giving birth anywhere but at home, others who want to be in a hospital no matter what, and others who are somewhere in between. this is YOUR birth, and you need to do what YOU feel is right for you, your baby, and your family.

take a tour of the local birth center. talk to the midwives there. see what their policies are. educate yourself on what your birth at the birth center would be like.

think about birthing in your apartment (or maybe a parent's house, etc, if they are close enough, you're comfortable there, etc). talk to people who have had homebirths. if you're planning on a HB MW, go to "finding your tribe" and talk to people who have used the MW you are planning on using. (also, ask around on FYT about the local birth center too.) it sounds like cost is a big factor in this too, so look into that. maybe the MW has some type of payment plan so that you dont have to put it on a charge card.

think about what your "ideal" birth would be like. then think about what would be absolutely essential to this "ideal" birth and what you could live with or live without. is a water birth essential? do you *need* a jacuzzi-style tub, or is a kiddie pool ok? or would a 15 minute drive to a birth center be do-able? if you did have a HB, would you absolutely want a MW or would you consider UC?

talk to your dp about this too. you're in this together, and even though you're the one giving birth, there may be concerns he has that you didnt consider.

[Peppamint]

I think FSBC are a great option for families who can't or don't choose to homebirth.

From a germ standpoint, it's not as safe as home (your germs) but it's a heck of a lot safer than a hospital (all kinds of sick people germs). For a good resource on that, check out Henci Goer's The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth.

A birth center isn't going to be home, so if that's what you really have your heart set on you may be disappointed... but if you don't mind a birth center you can have a wonderful birth. It's mostly about where you are most comfortable.

BTW, when I speak of a birth center, I'm referring to a freestanding birth center. I don't really consider a portion of a hospital building to be a birth center.

[starhalo]

I gave birth at a Birth Center and loved it. Our midwife (like many mentioned here) also does deliveries at home and was great with us. I mean, it felt like home with the exception of the reminder that there were patients probably waiting in the lobby that could hear me. I don't know...anyway, I had a great experience and loved the care and attention given to me at the center. Having said that...next time around I would like to deliver at home. Simply because having gone through the process once, I know that home is the best place (when it's safe) to be at when laboring.

[ckhagen]

Originally Posted by starhalo

I mean, it felt like home with the exception of the reminder that there were patients probably waiting in the lobby that could hear me.

My midwife actually closes the center and cancels all prenatal appointments while she has someone there in labor. The only people allowed in the waiting area were my family. That's why it's so important to interview and ask all of these questions, they're all so different.

[roxyrox]

I gave birth in a birth centre and it was amazing. There were no more rules and regulations than you have with a homebirth. Our midwife sat in the corner most of the time and left us to it! My main reason for having a birth centre birth rather than a homebirth was that they had better pools! LOL. I had a huge one that had jets to massage your back which really helped with contractions. I don't think I could have had a drug free birth if I had not been in that pool!!!

We ended up staying overnight -we all snuggled up in the double bed and I could call on the midwife to help with breastfeeding during the night. It was also quite nice to be served dinner and breakfast in bed by someone else!

I think I will choose to give birth in a birth centre with my next pregnancy. The whole thought of having to clear up and fill and empty a pool myself at home is what puts me off homebirth! It's nice to leave it all to someone else! (not DH either - I want him with me when I am in labour and after!)


I only had a 15 minute drive to my birth centre though so that was easy. Like someone else said being in the car when in labour is not so nice so I guess you have to take things like that into account too. Good luck in deciding. xxx