CHOICES OF WHERE TO GIVE BIRTH

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CHOICES OF WHERE TO GIVE BIRTH

• Make an informed decision

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Traditional Hospital setting

• the mother-to-be moves from a labor room to a
  delivery room and then, after the birth, to a
  semiprivate room.
• most common option but hospitals are moving away
  from it.
• doctors "manage" the delivery with their
  patients.
• In many cases, women in labor are not allowed to
  eat or drink (possibly due to anesthesia or for
  other medical reasons),
• may be required to deliver in a certain position.

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• Pain medications are available during labor and
  delivery (if the woman chooses)
• labor may be induced, if necessary
• the fetus is usually electronically monitored
  throughout the labor.
• birth plan can help a woman communicate her
  preferences about these issues, and most doctors
  will be as accommodating as possible.

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Birthing Suites/in hospital

• may include private rooms with baths
• women can labor, deliver, and recover in one
  place without having to be moved. (LDRP)
• doctor and medical staff are present but, the
  rooms are usually set up to create a nurturing
  environment, with amenities that try to simulate
  a home-like atmosphere.
• May offer rooming in
• Becoming more common.

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Birthing suites

• Equipment is hidden away until needed so it
  doesnt look as much like a hospital room.

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Family centered care

• Cares not just for mom and baby but dads,
  brothers, sisters.
• All are involved with the process.
• Siblings can be present at birth, provided they
  go through readiness classes.
• Suite has all the family needs (extra sleeping
  space, dining area etc.)

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A birthing center means

• No augmentation of labor with Pitocin (oxytocin)
• No electronic fetal monitoring except Doppler
  ultrasound
• No drugs for pain relief except local analgesia
  to suture tears in the perineum
• Very few episiotomies
• No c-sections deliveries

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• In many birth centers, the only equipment is
  oxygen and catheters to clear a baby's airways,
  if necessary
• May be separate from hospital, connected to or a
  section of it.
• Only for routine pregnancies

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BIRTHING CENTER
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Water births

• Relieves pressure and pain.
• Relaxes mom
• Gravity is less so pressure is less
• Slows moms heart rate.
• Veins are less constricted so blood flow is
  better/baby gets more oxygen.

Water births
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Birthing bed
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HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

• Obstetrician
• General Practitioner
• Nurse Midwife
• Lay Midwife

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Obstetrician

• physician that specializes in caring for pregnant
  women through childbirth.
• Women with complicated or difficult pregnancies
  make up a majority of their work.
• Many obstetricians also train as gynecologists so
  they are able to give medical advice and
  treatment concerning a woman's reproductive
  system.
• Pros/cons?

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General Practitioner

• A physician whose practice is not oriented to a
  specific medical specialty but instead covers a
  variety of medical problems in patients of all
  ages.
• Also called family doctor
• Pros/cons?

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Nurse Midwife

• Nurse with additional training for delivering
  babies and providing prenatal and postpartum care
  to women.
• Very involved in labor and delivery, sometimes
  never leaving the mother during the entire labor
  process.
• Trained to recognize signs and symptoms that
  arent normal conditions and will consult with a
  doctor who may become involved in the delivery if
  needed.

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• Qualified to administer drugs and to perform
  medical procedures, but not routine for
  nurse-midwives, and they are used only when the
  mother requests them.
• Most nurse-midwives deliver babies in hospitals
  and in homes.
• Provide both prenatal and postpartum care for
  both mothers and newborns.
• Pros/ cons?

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Lay midwife

• Medical training limited to labor and delivery.
• Also called a duola.
• provides continuous physical, emotional and
  informational support to the mother before,
  during and just after birth or who provides
  emotional and practical support during the
  postpartum period.