Getting Ready for Childbirth

 
One of the many decisions the mother must face is deciding where to have the baby. While the health of the mother and the baby is of utmost importance, the mother should also consider other factors such as costs, the type of medical insurance and the facilities available to the mother's physician i. e. hospital privileges. The mother's three main options for a location of childbirth include the hospital, at home or at a birthing center.

Today, 98. 8% of women in the United States give birth in hospitals. There are many advantages to this choice, including the presence of experienced personnel, advanced technology and blood supplies in case of emergency. Pain management options are also a great benefit to have as the labor progresses. However, there is a downside to giving birth in a hospital; it is usually more expensive and the mother may be separated from the baby intermittently. Hospitals offer various options for families regarding their labor visit, including birthing rooms, rooming-in with the baby, putting the baby in a nursery and family-centered maternity care. Traditionally it was thought a mother should spend extended amounts of time in the hospital following a birth, however today mothers only spend about one day after a vaginal birth and 3-5 days following a cesarean birth.

About 20,000 women a year in the United States have turned to home births as their choice of labor location. While this is common in some rural and religious communities, the practice is also becoming popular with women who can access and afford hospital care. While the advantages of home birth include a familiar and comfortable environment and reduced cost, there are also some disadvantages. If medical aid is required, it cannot always be accessed as quickly as in a hospital setting. If you are looking for the comforts of home but the safety of a hospital, consider a hospital birthing room that aims to create a comfortable home-like environment while providing access to emergency services, if necessary.

Birthing centers were initially developed as a more cost-effective alternative for women who couldn't afford the cost of advanced hospital care. Birthing centers encourage natural childbirth and the participation of families in the birthing process. Many women like birthing centers because of the less structured, homey atmosphere and the lowered costs. However, pregnancies are screened carefully before they are accepted by birthing centers, simply because the centers can only accommodate low risk births. After birth women can go home whenever they wish, usually a number of hours after delivery.

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