Childbirth Choices :: Choosing a Birth Place
Birth Center | Hospital | Home Birth
The vast majority of mothers today give birth in a hospital setting. A hospital is an appropriate birth place for many women, particularly those experiencing high-risk pregnancies or those with prior medical conditions. It is also the only birth place where a mother can choose to receive an epidural, or where a cesarean can be performed. There are, however, many differences from one hospital to another.
Some hospitals are affiliated with large universities and medical schools, and are therefore more likely to make use of medical students, residents, and interns in their maternity care. These hospitals typically also have 24-hour dedicated (just for labor and delivery) anesthesia services and neonatal intensive care units. They are most appropriate for high-risk pregnancies and sick newborns.
Smaller community hospitals typically have far fewer births per year. They may have a special care nursery, but not a neonatal intensive care nursery, and they do not typically include medical students or residents as part of a mother’s care team. Low-risk women often do very well at a smaller hospital, where they may receive more individual attention.
It is very important for you to visit each hospital you are considering, paying attention to how you feel when you are there. Does the staff seem responsive to your concerns? Are they forthcoming with information regarding their statistics and policies? Do they offer a range of maternity services, including access to midwives, family practice physicians, and obstetricians? While proximity to your home is certainly a factor, don’t choose the hospital closest to you just because of the short drive! You may find that another hospital a bit further away is a better match for your needs, and most women have plenty of time to get to the hospital, especially with their first birth.
Be sure to review the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services’ “10 Questions to Ask” your birth place or care provider before you visit.
Unfortunately, no hospitals in the Triangle area have yet endorsed the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (although some care providers have). So bring the 10 Questions with you to hospitals you investigate, and together we can encourage our area hospitals to become Mother-Friendly!
Hospitals with maternity services in our area include: