Advantages of Homebirth vs. Birth Center?

[UmmAbduRahman]

I have been blessed with two wonderful babies, both born at a free-standing birth center. Both births were great. Both the staff and the birth center were welcoming, comforting, and took great care of us.

The birth center I used is soooooo pretty and cozy and has an awesome tub in a clean and spacious bathroom. It is way prettier than my home. That and the tub are the main reasons I did not consider a homebirth thus far.

I'm not pregnant (yet), or at least not that i'm aware of, but somehow while squatting and stretching this morning I thought it might be nice to have our next baby at home.

I'm thinking it over on my own, but i'd like to hear what some of the advantages are to having baby at home rather than at a birth center.

So far the biggest ones I can think of are:
1) No car ride (for me the worst part of labor, or at least the worst place to be in labor-besides a hospital)

2) Having the special feeling associated with the place of birth of your child be YOUR home rather than a place of which you have no ownership.

3) possibly not having to transfer your other children to a caretaker's house during labor (although I don't really think I'd want them around when I'm laboring)

4) midwives possibly more open to not doing vaginal exams and letting me push in squat all the way to the end---or is this more just about WHO you choose rather than WHERE?

So far, if God blesses us with another baby, I think i'm leaning towards homebirth. However, I feel like I am somehow betraying my loyalty to my so-far-beloved birth center.

Your input, please? Thanks!

[luckymamato2]

I had my bio baby in a FSBC. I hope that we become pg again and have it at home. We don't have BC's here, but there is a hospital with a MW practice that encourages waterbirths, so if we don't get the HB worked out that would be the next best thing.

1. car ride stunk each way, although it was sooo nice to have a baby to look at on the way home

2. stairs hurt more than walking, so it will be nice not to have to climb stairs, even though we only have 2 to get up into our house

3. not worrying about being too loud, although I probably will still worry about that, being that our neighbors house isn't too far from our master bedroom, and we'll probably have the kids stay here, but on the other side of the house with a family member/friend. I'd hate for that family member or friend to be scarred from me screaming so loud. If the kids do need to leave, they could just take a walk to the playground, go in the backyard, etc., or the person assigned to care for them can just transfer the carseats themselves without needing my dh.

4. Hopefully dh will not be preoccupied with transferring kids/carseats to a family member/friend and leaving me to labor alone. It seemed like he was gone dealing with ds or trying to move carseats or getting me something to eat (after the birth). That sucked - I never really regained control over my labor after leaving our apartment, well... until the pushing stage. It was pretty peaceful there for awhile - they thought I was sleeping between contrax.

5. Not having to bring food with me or risk dh searching high and low for food after the birth. We didn't bring any food or drink to the BC, but luckily their fridge had lemonade!

6. Would not have coached pushing, IV's, vaginal exams, AROM, and hopefully I would be allowed/encouraged to move and be in any position I want. And I would be allowed a waterbirth if I so choose (not so at the FSBC).

Good Luck with your decision! I hope we both get pg soon.

[luckymamato2]

Sorry my numbers don't match yours!

[dogmom327]

OP, the reasons you listed were some that I would have mentioned. In addition, being able to have your own food and be in your own environment is huge. There is such a feeling of empowerment to realize that all these people are guests in your house and you can tell them all to go away if you want to--nice to be on your turf, not theirs.

I think the biggest deciding factor for me though was that there were not advantages to the birth center. Sure it was nice but there were far too many disadvantages (plus insurance would only pay as an out-of-network so it would have been a big bill).

[srneda78]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

I think the biggest deciding factor for me though was that there were not advantages to the birth center. Sure it was nice but there were far too many disadvantages (plus insurance would only pay as an out-of-network so it would have been a big bill).

My mw has a birth center and attends homebirths. I decided on homebirth because of this very reason...there were no true benefits to choosing the birth center over homebirth (at least for me). My mw has birth tubs she gives out for homebirths, so there wasn't even the benefit of having a tub at the birth center vs. not having one at home.

I tend to be a person who likes things clean and organized. When I first started researching homebirth, I was afraid of the mess and what not. But I realized there's really not a lot of mess...plus the midwife/asst do a good job of helping with that. Sure, you have to buy a few more supplies for home, but the benefit is that you don't have to ride in a car while in labor or a few hours after birth. Plus, I think being surrounded by a comfortable environment such as your home can help labor progress (at least that's my thinking).

[tanyalynn]

My first was born in a FSBC and it really was nice, but all the benefits of being at home that you listed really made it even better to be home with #2. At first I felt a bit disloyal (and I'd recommended it to so many people!) but the birth center has plenty of business and being home really was so very nice. One extra bonus--my 2nd labor was a bit long and drawn out, and if I'd had to figure out when to get in the car and go, wow, that would've been stressful. Much nicer to have my midwife make an extra trip to my house.

[thefragile7393]

My first was a FSBC baby....I can't compare yet to a hb.

Some advantages (for me) would have been a jacuzzi tub to birth in, vs. the aqua doula in the living room that I need.

Birth supplies are all there already, no buying anything.

I loved the birth I had with ds, but now the FSBC has new backing docs and new policies that I just couldn't handle...ridiculous policies.

Wtih my hb midwife I've learned so much about nutrition, I'm taking a great prenancy tea she makes and chlorophyll....stuff that the MW's at the BC never talked to me about. They never really taught me much about nutrition.

I like not having to go anywhere in labor..the BC is somewhat from from us.\

SHe's so much more realistic about tests (GBS, GD) and I was able to do the GD test my way. THe GBS remains to be seen what will happen and how that will be done.

I like the thought of already being home in my own bed. Anything dh needs will be there, no running around at the last minujte packing for him like last time.

[*MamaJen*]

I'd say the main homebirth advantage is being on your turf. It was so nice stepping out of the birth tub and on to the sofa to nurse the baby. Also, I was really happy to avoid the car ride.
That said, if there's a birth center that's a comfortable environment for you to birth, nothing wrong with going there either.
The big birthing center jacuzzi tubs look pretty rad, but remember you can always set up portable hot tubs in your home. You don't need that much space or special fixtures or anything.
It does sound a little perturbing that you said the midwives didn't let you push in the position you wanted -- might be worth talking about or thinking about.

[kalirush]

I'd probably go with a FSBC if I had the choice. My house is tiny and not particularly comfy. I'd love to not have to set up a tub or worry about having stuff on hand.

But, I do appreciate the benefits of homebirth, too. And since my options are homebirth or birth at one of the hospitals here, there's no question which route I'm going.

[txgal]

I agree with what others have said. I lost quite a lot of blood at my home birth and was put on strict bedrest for 2 days after the birth. I honestly don't know how I would have gotten in the car and gone home just a few hours after the birth. I couldn't stand up with out getting faint, it was great to be able to curl up in my bed and not leave.

Lydia

[momto4kids]

I have only birthed @ home & a hospital....but I can list for you why we chose HB over the birthcenter....

~ it was a 45 minute drive to the birthcenter

~ the same MW's do both HB & use the birthcenter

~ we would have had to buy the same supplies either way

~ I hate driving in labor!!!

~ it was nice to be home & in my own enviroment

~ I didn't want DH to entertain 3 & 4 kids at the BC while I was in labor, while at home the kids were free to do what they wanted

~ It was great to not have to go ANYWHERE after the birth

Dana

[shanahan]

a birth center isn't an option for us - but I still think I would prefer to be at home - all for reasons previously listed...

1) not having to "go anywhere" - and NO car drive (those stink when in labor!!)

2) the comfort and smells of "home"

3) immediately being able to get in my OWN BED!! this is huge for me! I am a very bad sleeper and need things "just so" (the set amount/size of pillows, the right temps, choice of comfy blankets, etc.)

4) not having to get back in a car after birth w/an itty bitty newborn (last time we witnessed an accident - although small - w/a motorcycle, and it made us paranoid the whole drive home)

[UmmAbduRahman]

Thanks everybody for this great input

[zak]

My first was a FSBC birth and my second was a HB. I had an amazingly positive FSBC birth experience, but I much prefer my HB experience!! I loved being on my own "turf" so to speak. I loved that I was using all my own stuff (shower, towels, clothes, blankets, pillows, etc). I loved that my older son was in the comfort of his own home and had his Papa (DH) available if he was scared or needed us. I loved that my friends were able to come and bake cookies at my home while I labored and kept my son entertained while I had a very quick (less than 5 hours) labor! I loved that we could all cuddle and snuggle in our own bed. I loved having my MW bring me food from my own fridge. I loved not having to travel to the BC. Or travel home post-birth. It was just an amazing experience. I loved birthing my child in my bathroom. I love all our memories, that will forever be integrated in living in *this* house.

[Collinsky]

For me it was no car ride, total comfort, and greater autonomy/authority.

ETA: oh - no strange bacteria or viruses that your body isn't already used to!

[momofmine]

It's so funny how many people have this exact same experience, but me too! My first was at a free-standing, out-of-hospital BC, and my 2nd was born at home.

I actually thought I wanted to do the BC again the 2nd time, but it had closed in between. I am so very glad I had a homebirth the 2nd time. It was so wonderful, and there is no difference. They bring all the same stuff they would need anyway. It is so wonderful to be in your own space, to not have to worry when it's time to go, to pack, etc. And plus I feel like your baby ought to born surrounded by your own family's germs! My 2nd also likes saying he was born in the living room.

You should go for it! Don't worry about feeling disloyal at all.