One question that will cross every 'Mother To Be's' lips.. where will I give birth?
Below is a little insight which may help in your decision.
Choosing your birth location
You can give birth at home, in a unit run by midwives (a
midwifery unit or birth centre) or in hospital. The choice you have about where
to have your baby will depend on your needs and risks and, to some extent, on
where you live. Wherever you choose, the place should feel right for you.
You can find out more by reading this whole article, or clicking on the links
in this list to go straight to the information you want:
- Making an informed decision
- Home birth
- Birth in a midwifery unit or birth centre
- Hospital birth
- Questions to ask
Safety
Giving birth is generally safe wherever you choose to have
your baby. However, women who give birth in a unit run by midwives or at home
are less likely to need assistance, for example through the use of forceps
or ventouse (sometimes called instrumental delivery).
Healthy women assessed to be at 'low risk' should be offered
a choice of birth setting. If you choose to give birth at home or in a unit run
by midwives, you should be given information by your midwife or GP about what
would happen if you need to be transferred to hospital during labor, and how
long this would take. If something goes seriously wrong during your labor
(which is rare) it could be worse for you or your baby than if you were in
hospital with access to specialized care.
You may be advised to give birth in hospital if you have or
develop certain medical conditions. For women with some medical conditions it
is safest to give birth in hospital because specialists are available if you
need extra help during labor.
Sometimes the maternity unit you choose may not be available
if many women are in labor at the same time and the unit is full. Ask your
midwife what to expect if this happens to you.
Making an informed decision
It’s important that you and your partner have all the
information you need to make choices about where you would like to give birth.
It is your choice, and even after you have decided where you want to have your
baby, you can still change your mind. Your midwife will discuss the options
that are available in your area, though you are free to choose any maternity
services if you are willing to travel.
As well as your midwife, you can get information from:
- children’s centers
- your GP surgery
- local maternity units
- maternity services liaison committees
- a supervisor of midwives
- the Birthplace study, published November 2011, comparing safety of births planned in different settings (at home, in hospital and midwife-led units)
Talk to your midwife about going to have a look around the
local maternity services. Don’t hesitate to ask questions (see a list of
helpful questions) if you don’t understand something or if you think you need
to know more. You may also want to get advice from your friends and
family.
Home birth
If you have a straightforward pregnancy and both you and the
baby are well, you might choose to give birth at home. In England, around one
in every 50 babies is born at home.
If you give birth at home, you’ll be supported by a midwife
who will be with you while you’re in labor. If you need any help or your labor
is not progressing as well as it should, your midwife will make arrangements
for you to be transferred to hospital. The advantages of giving birth at home
include:
- being in familiar surroundings where you may feel more relaxed and able to cope
- you don’t have to interrupt your labor to go into hospital
- you will not need to leave your other children, if you have any
- you will not have to be separated from your partner after the birth
- you are more likely to be looked after by a midwife who you have got to know during your pregnancy
There are some things you should think about if you’re
considering a home birth:
- you may need to transfer to a hospital if there are complications
- epidurals are not available at home
- your doctor or midwife may recommend that you give birth in hospital; for example if you are expecting twins, or if your baby is breech – your midwife or doctor will explain why they think a hospital birth is safer for you and your baby
Planning a home birth
Ask your midwife whether or not a home birth is suitable for
you and your baby, or available to you. If it is, your midwife will arrange for
members of the midwifery team to support and help you. Here are some questions
you might want to ask:
- How long would it take it I needed to be transferred to hospital?
- Which hospital would I be transferred to?
- Would a midwife be with me all the time?
- How do I obtain a birthing pool?
Midwifery units or birth centers
Midwifery units or birth centers are more comfortable and
homely than a maternity unit in a hospital. Midwifery units can be part of a
general hospital maternity unit, in a smaller community hospital or completely
separate from a hospital. The advantages of giving birth at a midwifery unit
include:
- being in surroundings where you may feel more relaxed and able to cope with labor
- you’re more likely to be looked after by a midwife that you have got to know during your pregnancy
There are some things to think about if you’re considering
giving birth in a midwifery unit or birth centre:
- you may need to transfer to a hospital if there are any complications
- in a unit that’s completely separate from a hospital, you won’t be able to have certain kinds of pain relief, for example an epidural – ask your midwife whether the unit or centre is part of a hospital or completely separate
- your doctor or midwife may feel that it’s safer for you to give birth in hospital
Planning a birth in a midwifery unit or birth centre
Ask your midwife if there are any midwifery units or birth centers
in your area. There may be others you can use if you’re prepared to travel.
Here are some questions you might want to ask:
- How long would it take if I needed to be transferred to hospital?
- Which hospital would I be transferred to?
- Would a midwife be with me all the time?
- Can I visit the unit before I give birth?
- What facilities are available, for example birthing pools?
Hospital birth
Most women give birth in a hospital maternity unit. If
you choose to give birth in hospital, you’ll be looked after by midwives but
doctors will be available if you need their help. You’ll still have choices
about the kind of care you want. Your midwives and doctors will provide
information about what your hospital can offer. The advantages of giving birth
in hospital include:having
direct access to obstetricians, anesthetists (who give epidurals and general
anesthetics) and neonatologists (specialists in newborn care)
- you can access other specialist services, such as epidurals for pain relief
- there will be a special care baby unit if there are any problems
There are some things you should think about if you’re
considering a hospital birth:
- you may go home directly from the labor ward or you may be moved to a postnatal ward
- in hospital, you may be looked after by a different midwife from the one who looked after you during your pregnancy
Planning a hospital birth
Your midwife can help you decide which hospital feels right
for you. If there is more than one hospital in your area you can choose which
one to go to. Find out more about the care provided in each so you can decide
which will suit you best.
Here are some questions you might want to ask:
- Are tours of the maternity facilities available before the birth?
- When can I discuss my birth plan?
- Are TENS machines available for pain relief or do I need to hire one?
- What equipment is available, for example mats, a birthing chair or bean bags?
- Are there birthing pools?
- How long will I be in hospital?
Wherever you decide to give birth, you can change your mind
at any stage of pregnancy. Talk to your midwife if there’s anything you’re not
sure about or you want to know more.
We hope this has given you some food for thought. Have a Sensational Day !
