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Preparing For Pregnancy: Childbirth Options - Page 2

© Lori Ramsey

2. No anesthetic pain medicine (such as an epidural or narcotic). Only the use of over-the-counter medicines and herbs can be used.
3. Must meet “low risk” measures to safely have a home birth.
4. Must have “emergency” back up plan - i.e. a doctor to take over and a hospital ready should an occurrence arise.

HOSPITAL BIRTH

Hospital births are by far the most popular choice today for pregnant women - though the trend for home births once again are on the rise - still hospital births out weigh home births significantly. Perhaps this is because in the 20th century hospital births became the norm. Hospitals have come a long way in the past decade at making the birthing experience more “homey”. Before that most all hospitals were very “sterile” and “medical” about the birthing process. There were separate labor and delivery and recovery rooms and Dad wasn’t allowed in to share in the experience. He had to wait with all the other visitors in the waiting room, pacing the floors. Now a laboring mom can have anyone with her to “coach” and witness and share in her birth experience. Even if she is having a cesarean, most hospitals will allow one or two people in the operating room during the procedure.

Advantages
1. A well trained staff to help in case something goes wrong. All the necessary equipment needed to provide both mom and baby with the best of emergency medical care should the need arise.
2. In most hospitals - birthing rooms are available for the normal birth - where the labor, delivery and recovery is all in one room.
3. Most hospitals encourage rooming in - where the baby stays with mom the entire time. And there is usually a place for the “coach/support” person to stay as well.
4. The availability of constant fetal monitoring. This sometimes helps to ease the mind of a laboring mom.

Disadvantages
1. Medical intervention - such as an IV drip-fetal monitoring - can sometimes hinder labor and freedom of movement.
2. A set amount of time is given to the laboring mom to produce results - otherwise medical action is taken. i.e. Pitocin drip to augment contractions, breaking of the bag of waters, and sometimes a cesarean is performed if labor does not go as timely as the doctor deems necessary.
3. Forbiddance of food and drink during labor.
4. Lack of “personal” attention by the attending doctor - who usually makes it in time to “catch” the baby.

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