Childbirth is a natural process. Yet there are many reasons why hospital is still the most popular place for women to give birth.
Despite the necessarily clinical atmosphere, women rightly believe it is the safest place to give birth. It is comforting to know that you are surrounded by a team of trained professionals who are able to administer certain drugs such as painkillers for difficult labor.
There are a number of reasons for choosing a hospital birth. A gynecologist you know and trust may work in your local hospital, and will be able to help reassure you as you enter labor.
Your husband too, will be stressed at this point in your labor and might be worried about a home birth and especially the consequences of his involvement.
Throughout your prenatal care, your doctor will be carefully monitoring your pregnancy. Your doctor may feel that certain medical conditions such as diabetes, preeclampsia or a heart or kidney condition will warrant a hospital birth. Your doctor will also choose a hospital birth if you go into labor three or more weeks before your due date.
Trust your doctor's experience when choosing a birthing method. Your doctor will advise a hospital birth if your baby is breech. Breech babies can be complicated and it is sensible to be surrounded by trained team of professionals with access to good equipment.
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If you are over forty and a first time mother you should be prepared for a longer labor. Labor can be speeded up and carefully monitored using drugs in hospital. Similarly, if you are 5' 2" or shorter, your baby may not have much room to pass through your pelvis. Careful monitoring throughout your labor can minimize the complications of a difficult delivery.
Your doctor will have checked your medical history during your pregnancy. Some doctors believe that all first time mothers should give birth in hospital, because they believe labor is normal only in retrospect.
If you have given birth before, and had a hemorrhage in a previous labor you will advised to give birth in hospital so that doctors can be prepared to provide a blood transfusion before or after delivery.
If you have had three or more miscarriages, your doctor will also suggest a hospital delivery. Hospital is still the most popular birthing method for most mothers. If you are worried about your pregnancy, hospital will be able to provide you with reassurance and the ability to make your labor and delivery as easy as possible.
Making a birth choice is not the only decision you will be required to make when planning the delivery of your baby. When choosing hospital care, it is a good idea to carefully consider exactly what your desires, and limitations are before making a decision.
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The first consideration is to choose between public and private obstetrical care. Your choice will depend on a number of factors including your doctor and your health plan. Another option is Certified Nurse Midwife Programs, which will provide you with more emotional support than traditional obstetrical care.
Once you have chosen the type of hospital care you are interested in, you will want to take a tour of the hospital. It is important that you feel comfortable in the birth environment.
Whether you choose a public or a private hospital you will want to take a tour before making your final decision. It is important that you feel comfortable with the facilities, the equipment and most importantly the doctors and nursing staff.
If the hospital is not used to giving tours to expectant mothers, contact the Head Nurse of Obstetrics and ask to be shown around. You will also want to meet the childbirth educator.
While completing your research, contact your local childbirth education association or local women's organization and ask them for their opinions and experiences. It is important to gather as much information as you can about the hospitals in your area so that you can make an informed decision that is right for you.
Although you will want to take a tour of the entire hospital and talk to nursing staff, your primary interest will be the birth room. This will be the room in which you will spend many hours in labor and give birth to your baby, so it is important that the room is right and that you feel comfortable.
Most modern hospitals are equipped with excellent facilities. There is equipment that enables you to sit, stand, kneel or even squat while providing you with something solid to hold onto. It is important that you are provided with a wide range of motions throughout labor that will allow you to minimize the pain.
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Women who remain upright in the first stage of labor tend to have less pain and therefore need fewer pain relieving drugs. They also dilate more quickly reducing the amount of time spent in labor. Their babies' heart rates are also more like to fall within normal range making birth more pleasant for the baby.
Like the first stage of labor, the second stage also benefits from an upright position. Again there is less pain and a reduced need for pain relieving drugs. Pushing is facilitated, and with easier dilation there are fewer tears. The result is a more normal vaginal birth.
Most women recline during labor because of staff expectations. Sometimes there are obstetric restrictions such as an intravenous lineThe delivery of fluid, often glucose, directly into the vein using a plastic catheter, and bag of fluid.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., epiduralsA regional anesthetic introduced into the base of the spine used during labor and for cesarean sections. Also known as an epidural block.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. and electronic fetal monitors.
Look at how the room will be used when taking your tour of the hospital. The hospital you are visiting might have a rocking chair for the first stage of labor and a birth stool with a squatting bar for the second stage.
Using this equipment can greatly alleviate the pain associated with labor. When looking at the equipment and facilities in the birthing room check to see if there are ledges and furniture and different heights that you can also use to give you support and move your pelvis. You might, for instance, want to ask for a beanbag or cushions, or bring some with you.
Remember that you should control the environment and you should feel free to bring things that will make you comfortable. Other people who can hold you and do what you want them to do provide the very best support.
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Some of the birth rooms you visit may not contain a birth bed. If there is no birth bed, take a floor exercise mat into hospital to kneel or sit on. Your hospital may have a birth pool or a whirlpool bath. You should try using it because it will provide you with tremendous pain relief.
These birth pools are often located in an adjacent room separate from the birth room, so they are more private and personal. Some birth pools may be large enough that you can move freely, even give birth in the water. This is an option in some hospitals, but is more frequent in out-of-hospital settings.
Ask the hospital you are visiting about a Jacuzzi, which is designed for the elderly and those with physical handicaps. They are easy to get into and out of and will place you in a semi-reclining position.
If there is no tub available in your hospital, you might want to consider renting a larger tub in which you can give birth. You can have it temporarily installed while you are in the hospital. Talk this over with your caregiver and your local childbirth education or midwives' organization.
Ultimately you want to be comfortable. The hospital you visit may have impressive looking equipment, but are you or the doctors in control of it? Normally birth rooms (as are all hospital facilities) are organized for the comfort and convenience of the doctors and midwives. You want to make sure that can dictate how the equipment in the birth room is used.
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