Guest Author - Jan Zeiger

When I was pregnant with my first child, it never occurred to me that I could have the baby anywhere other than in a hospital. It wasn’t until after my son was born that I found out about two birth centers in my area. I didn’t see an ad on tv or on a local flyer; I learned about these alternatives from the mothers I met on the local natural parenting email group. This intrigued me so I toured one near my home when I became pregnant with my second child. As I finished the tour, I knew I wanted to have my baby there. The environment was so different from the hospital, and the staff members were empowering and supportive. I also knew moms who had birthed their babies at home, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing so because of a bad experience I had at a nearby hospital. In the rare case of emergency transfer, I didn’t want to end up at that hospital. The birth center was a happy medium between home and the hospital, and the focus was on birthing naturally. The birthing suite had a king sized bed that would allow baby, mommy, and daddy to rest together after the birth along with home-like décor. The staff members at the birth center were much like the attendants at a home birth; their focus was on supporting me during labor and the actual birth with as few interventions as possible.

So why would anyone want to have their baby at a birth center? Or at home? For me it was about not having to fight to get the birth I wanted. Even more importantly, it was about having childbirth treated as a normal and natural process rather than as an illness. And I certainly didn’t want to expose my newborn baby to hospital germs if it wasn‘t medically necessary. It was about being allowed to “call the shots” rather than being treated like a patient who needed to be rescued. While it is common practice for OB and hospital midwives to expect the mother to lie on her back while pushing, this is not the case in a birth center or at home. The mother can labor and then push in whatever position feels best for her. Some women prefer to push on all fours while others use a birthing stool or another position. It’s up to the individual mom. She may naturally know what she wants or she may listen to recommendations of her doula and midwife. In addition, she’s allowed to eat and drink as she normally would and isn’t tied down by a monitor or IV. She’s able to move about freely with the midwife or assistant checking the babies heartbeat on an intermittent basis. She may labor in the water or even give birth in the water! (There are special waterproof dopplers to use during waterbirths.) My point is that the choices are hers. She’s allowed to follow her natural instincts regarding childbirth and she is advised when she needs help making those decisions. As a mom who gave birth in a hospital and then a birth center, I can tell you the difference is remarkable. These are just a few of the reasons why I would only go back to a hospital for childbirth if it were medically necessary.

I’m writing this article because I wanted to let new mothers know that there are alternatives to having a hospital birth. Remember that the idea of having babies in hospitals is relatively new. More and more women are choosing natural childbirth because the research shows that interventions and drugs often lead to complications or even surgery. (There is a healthcare crisis in the U.S. with c-sections being at an all-time high. I’ll write more on this in a future article.)Women who choose natural childbirth believe that going drug free is better for baby. I don‘t drink caffeine while I‘m pregnant. Why would I take narcotics while giving birth? Drugs given to the laboring mother do enter the baby’s bloodstream and I wish I’d had a better understanding of this the first time around.

Women who are interested in living more naturally are choosing midwives and doulas rather than doctors and nurses to attend their births. Some women choose to birth naturally but prefer to do so in a hospital while others look for alternative birth settings such as the local birth center or their very own home. I have included links I consider to be the best natural childbirth websites in the “childbirth and parenting” section of the Natural Living site here at Bella Online. I’ve also recommended a few books for the natural birthing mother.

Please feel free to email me you need help finding information on alternative birth options in your area. I’d be glad to assist you.