There are many wonderful choices for places to give birth. Being aware of the differences may help parents make informed decisions. I recently had a call from a mother looking for classes. We then talked about doulas and midwives. She had never considered either one. Her friends all went to a doctor and planned to have pain medications without researching the possible side affects. She didn’t know anyone who wanted to try for natural childbirth and knew very little about midwives or doulas. We had a very fun in enlightening conversation. At the very minimum I hope she found a doula to work with.
Here is a list of birth place options. They are in order of most intervention oriented to least. I will be talking in very general terms. You can find more information on the BirthLink web site.
Labor & Delivery with OBs
This is the choice most parents make when having a baby. Yet, most do little or no research on what happens during the typical birth. Learning about birth may take some time but it will be well worth the effort. Especially if you are open to allowing your body and baby to birth without medical interventions. It can be done! Interview your provider before agreeing to work with them. If that is not possible then consider a midwife.
Labor & Delivery with Midwives
Midwives also have hospital privileges though not all facilities that offer childbirth services have them. Know your midwife. Interviewing and asking questions before you choose your provider is recommended. Most midwives are open to this. How do you know what questions to ask? There are lots of lists of “questions to ask” – just ask Google. Keep in mind that you may see more of the nursing staff than you do your primary care practitioner. While midwives spend more time than OB’s with clients, only a doula will offer continuous labor support.
Alternative Birth Center
Usually two rooms in the regular labor and delivery unit that are set up to support natural childbirth and offer water birth. Midwives provide birth services and usually offer more support to a laboring woman. If medical interventions are necessary the mother will be moved to a labor & delivery room on the same floor. Everyone is on board with supporting natural birth including staff. This is a huge factor. They may also have more birth equipment for labor.
Free Standing Birth Center
A facility separate from the main hospital that serves as a backup. There could be more protocol flexibility due to having greater autonomy. If the approach to birth is more relaxed the mom can relax and allow birth to happen naturally. Midwives also serve these facilities. They can be more home like in atmosphere and most often offer water birth.
Home Birth
Midwives are most often the providers. Home birth is not illegal in IL. Anyone considering having a home birth needs to understand what kind of training the midwives have. Interviewing is a necessity. You need a list of questions to ask. Follow up and check on qualifications. Learn about back up procedures.
Unassisted Birth
No practitioner is attending the family. They give birth on their own. I don’t recommend or endorse this method of giving birth. It saddens me that families feel they have no other choice or can’t find the care they are looking for.