Birth Centers? - Page 2

[annettejohnson02]

Originally Posted by onlyboys

The birth center I work for does have certain policies in place--bring your own food, pads, drinks. And most women do go home by about 4 hours postpartum, but this is by CHOICE. I've only ever seen one woman who opted to stay for an extended period of time and there were extenuating circumstances.

By 4 hours or so (could be 6) postpartum, you're bathed, fed, nursed your baby, dressed and ready to rest. Most of the women we serve are about 30 minutes to 1 hour from home and their own bed calls to them. Their baby begins to embark on his or her first long sleep and many mamas feel like they want to ride in the car with a sleeping baby versus a crying baby. By the time they get home their baby is snoozing and the mom is ready for the same.

No one believes me in my CBE classes that they will likely WANT to go home. But they do!

I delivered both of my babies in this birth center and had 2 wonderful experiences! My second was intended to be a homebirth, but I moved at 38 weeks and just didn't feel "settled" in my new home, but I knew I would feel comfortable at the BC. I went home at 5 hours PP with my first and 3.5 hours with #2. I was about 20 minutes from home with #1 and 5 minutes with #2. When the time comes to have #3 I will likely homebirth, but would have no problem using a birth center again!

[gottaknit]

I just had DD in a birth center three weeks ago, and would definitely do it again (if I was crazy enough to get pregnant again!)

My birth center was Andaluz Waterbirth Center. It's about 35 minutes from my house. The midwives and their apprentices are incredible. I arrived when I was pretty sure I was in active labor, and had DD 9 hours later. My insurance paid for 48 hours of postpartum care!, and I stayed for every minute of it. I had a big comfy bed in a beautiful room, postpartum doulas to wait on me, excellent meals, and no distractions or people barging in to take "vitals" all the time like at the hospital.

For me, it was preferable to a homebirth, because I know I couldn't have stayed in bed for 48 hours straight at home (I have a needy toddler and DH can't find his own ass with two hands. :)

[domestic_goddess]

Originally Posted by nikkiana

and I dunno, four hours postpartum seems like a really short amount of time between birth and going home to me.... I would have hoped for some more down time before being sent home.

It wasn't so much I got sent home four hours later. I wanted to go home. We were done. I was stable, baby was fine. We'd both eaten and I'd showered. There was nothing else to do but go home and rest.

Which is why this time around we're just going to do it at home. Then I don't have to get there and leave again. It's November! It's going to be cold. I'll stay snuggled in my bed and the midwife can leave. She said she'll tuck me in with my baby and be on her way - of course will check back with me later to make sure everything is okay.

Oh, and I live in an apartment. I'm not worried about it. A friend of mine just gave birth at home on Friday in her apartment.

[Girlprof]

The birth center I'm going to for this pregnancy is in a hospital and I think after 12 hours you have to leave. But if you want to stay, you can change to the hospital. We'll see how it's going, but that's what I'm expecting to do. With DS I lost a lot of blood and later passed out. This pregnancy is also higher risk so I'm ok with sticking around a bit longer.

Sarah