Why give birth in a hospital?

Question

Why did you choose that option?

And what interventions did you have there?

Answer 1

Home births are perfectly safe for a low-risk pregnancy. In fact, the death rate for home births is *less than* that for hospital births.... so, some people around here don't know what they're talking about. If you have a good midwife, she will know if the baby is in danger and will send you to a hospital. Also, hospitals are *not* sterile, despite what people seem to think. You have a higher chance of contracting an infection in a hospital than you do in your own home. It's sad, but true.

But, as far as choosing a hospital for birth, I think people do it for peace of mind - or because they are ignorant of the facts and just assume it's the only safe thing to do.

I am going with a hospital for my first baby but hope to have home births in the future. I chose the hospital this time mainly because the doctors that I really wanted to see don't have anyone in their practice that delivers at home. I'm not looking forward to all the interventions... it's usually hospital policy to strap you to a fetal monitor, which restricts your movement and makes labor more difficult. You are rather likely to have an episiotomy, whether it is medically indicated or not (by the way, tearing is better than cutting). They restrict your eating and drinking - usually don't let you eat anything at all, and only let you have clear fluids. They may restrict the positions you can labor and give birth in, which may work against you and your baby's progres. They will likely cut the baby's cord and take him/her away from you nearly immediately after birth.

Good luck making your decision.

Answer 2

I choose a hospital for a number of reasons. First off I had no desire for natural child birth and wanted to be near the epidural man ie the anesthesiologist.

Secondly I wanted to know that should there be something seriously wrong with the baby, or after delivery, with me, that we would have all the medical help we needed.

And lastly my doctor wanted me induced for the baby's sake.

I had an epidural and I had the pitocin to start contractions. I also received stadol for pain.

There are also birthing centers you can go to which allow you to have more of a natural experience but which I still think have SOME medical professionals on staff that can handle minor problems.

Do some research. Find out what fits for YOU. If you want to go to the hospital DO IT. Don't let anyone tell you that women have been giving birth in the "fields" or at home for years and that you are wussing out. Conversely don't let people tell you that you just HAVE to go to the hospital and are a bad mother if you opt for a water birth at home.

When you become pregnant everyone has all sorts of opinions about you and your body and your baby. Listen to yourself, talk with your family, husband, babies father whatever, and make a plan that works for you .

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Give birth in a hospital if you need a cesarean or are high risk for some other reason. Do not give birth in a hospital if you are low risk unless your midwife determines that you should transfer. Just my opinion, but it's an opinion based on research and science. It's safer for mom and baby to give birth in a free-standing birth center or a home than in a hospital, according to medical research. Outcomes are better, less damage is done by interventions, less unnecessary cesareans, it's cheaper, and it's just plain easier at home.

I gave birth almost five months ago in a hospital and I had a wonderful experience, as far as hospital births go. I had a wonderful, attentive midwife who sat with me the entire time I was in the hospital. I had a doula who came to my house beforehand and was with me through the entire birth and helped with breastfeeding immediately afterwards. My husband was the best birth partner any woman could ask for. My mother and sister were also there and I felt very supported and capable with so many close and caring people. I had no medications whatsoever. I had a "typical" length of birth (11 1/2 hours). I did hemorrhage pretty badly because I didn't eat anything and had to be given IV pitocin to help my uterus shrink after I birthed my son. Why didn't I eat anything? Because I was in a hospital and I was too focused on making this baby. It's truly stupid for hospitals to restrict food and drink during labor. The medical guidelines even say that it should not be done. Women should eat and drink during labor just as any athlete would eat and drink during a 12+ hour marathon.

I chose the hospital birth because I thought that was my only choice with Medicaid. I'm hearing now that Medicaid is required to cover home births. Bah. We don't have any free-standing birth centers here, so that wasn't an option either, I thought. I could have gone an hour to one, but I didn't look into it because I didn't think it was an option. I will definitely do a home birth next time.

More "problems" arise in hospitals than in homes. 2/3 of all cesareans in the U.S. are unnecessary. The best way to avoid an unnecessary cesarean? Stay out of the hospital. Over 1/4 of live births in the U.S. are delivered by cesarean. Only 10% of live births can safely be delivered by cesarean (any more than that causes more problems than it solves). The maternal, fetal, and neonatal death rates in the U.S. are higher than in other developed countries. Why? Because of the intervention rates and the way our culture does not trust women's bodies to do what they are designed specifically to do.

Electronic fetal monitors result in more instrumental deliveries, more interventions, and more cesareans - without improving fetal and maternal outcomes. That's why intermittent monitoring is done in the U.S. now - constant monitoring was CAUSING problems. Hospital personel don't trust women's bodies, expecting things to go wrong in a process that will go right almost every time.

Childbirth is normal. Interference is risky. Hire a midwife. Have a home birth if you're not high risk (even a VBAC can be done with a homebirth midwife in most cases). Childbirth is not a disease. Go to the hospital when you're sick. Stay home when you're well.

Answer 4

I had all of my children in the hospital. I really wanted a to do a home birth with my first one but no midwives where I live. I was planning on a birthing center for my second but he was breech so to the hospital I went! I think that whatever you choose is ok. The homebirth is probably more personal, but the security of a hospital is great if complications do come up. Remember that you can make the hospital as personal as you want and make your own birthing plan. Decide what your goal is and go from there.

Answer 5

"Why did you choose that option?"

Don't assume. We had everything looking great to go with a midwife and home birth, then moved, and moved into an area with a midwife shortage...

...so, now, I'm looking forward to at least showing up at the last possible second, then getting out of the hospital asap after the birth. :-/ We neither of us know squat about infant recusitation or anything else that would make _unassisted_ homebirth look like a good idea.

I note with some irritation that I expect to use drugs in the hospital. I didn't expect to at home. I just can't see myself having any workable relaxation/pain-distraction methods in a hospital setting...

On the up side, the midwife at least managed to point us to the OB with the highest vaginal delivery rate in the area, an extremely low-intervention, relaxed guy who, well, if I have to go to the hospital, I actually look forward to seeing.

The hospital itself is another matter.

They make all manner of "family-friendly!" claims. However, getting a room that will accomodate Dad with any comfort looks dodgy. And the couple of times we've been in there, we've noticed a LOT of mothers dropping their babies off in the nursery. "Oh, we encourage mothers to walk around," they say, and it's obvious there's barely room to move. They're saying the right things, but it's clearly lip service. They'd like to keep me there for a minimum of 24h. The OB has no problem with me leaving 4h after the birth; it'll be interesting to see if that means a fuss with the nurses...

Answer 6

We just found out today that we're pregnant with our 4th. (Yay!) So I am considering this very question right now. Our first three children (and our still birth) were all delivered in the hospital. The only intervention ... out of all the labors ... was Pitocin & Demerol with the first baby and Demerol with the second baby. The third baby came so fast, we didn't need anything at all, but for someone to catch the baby. :o) The still birth (in the ER & not in the OB dept) was such a horrible experience that we are likely going to use a midwife at home this time.

Answer 7

I gave birth in a hospital because at the time I was living with my parents, my two year old sister and my four year old sister and their 7 cats so I felt like the hospital was the best option for me. I had two stretch and sweeps (membrane sweeps) and one prostaglandin pessary and gas and air. I am choosing another hospital birth this time round because I dont feel comfortable or relaxed in my new home, I feel agitated just being here so I know that if I was giving birth here it would drive me demented! Plus I like my hospital and the staff there. I plan on having a water birth this time.

Answer 8

I did not have any of mine at the hospital. I had three of them in the birth center and one in the car. I did not want an electronic monitor and I wanted to be able to eat during labor. A doctor was there at the birth center and they monitored me with a fetascope. I had no pain medication and an episiotomy with just the first one because of fetal distress.

Answer 9

Why? Because I want all the equipment and experts available if something should go wrong.
I would never be able to get over it if I choose to have a home-birth and something went wrong that could have been taken care of in a hospital.

Answer 10

I chose it because my insurance would not cover a midwife for a home birth and I was not as prepared as I would want to be for a Unassisted Home Birth. My goodness, never again. My hospital experiences were absolutely horrible and I am determined to not step foot in the hosp again unless absolutely necessary.