what are my birth options?
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Two of the first decisions you will make as a newly expectant parent are who is going to be your physician throughout your pregnancy and where you’ll be giving birth.
One of the roles of a doula is to provide informational support and that means making sure you know what options are available to you for your care. You have every right to give birth in a place that makes you feel safe, attended by a physician that you trust. If you have a great relationship with your OB-GYN and are comfortable giving birth in a hospital, I am so happy for you! But for those of you who carry some trauma associated with hospitals and medical doctors, there are other options - freestanding birth centers, midwifery care, and home birth.
So now that you know you have options, let’s compare!
We’ll start with who you may choose for care - midwife or OB-GYN. Both go through rigorous training and certification processes and are committed to the safety and health of you and your baby. However there are some key differences.
MIDWIFE
Midwives are trained and experienced health professionals.
They most often attend births at birth centers or clients’ homes.
Midwives are highly skilled in managing low-risk pregnancies.
They tend to treat birth as a physiological process, allowing events to proceed with minimal interference.
You will most likely receive more individualized care in a midwifery practice.
OBSTETRICIAN-GYNECOLOGYST (OB-GYN)
OB-GYNs are medical doctors and surgeons trained to perform cesarean sections and hysterectomies.
They most often attend births at hospitals.
OB-GYNs are trained to manage high-risk or complicated pregnancies, such as expecting multiples or birthing people with preexisting conditions.
They tend to treat birth as a pathological event requiring diagnosis and treatment.
You will most likely receive more generalized care in an OB-GYN practice.
So we’ve looked at the “who.” Now it’s time to compare the “where.” You can choose to have your baby at home, a freestanding birth center, or at the hospital.
HOME BIRTH
Your primary midwife will most likely be the one to attend your birth.
Ask your midwife if they partner with an OB-GYN or hospital in case any complications or emergencies arise.
Pain management options are non-medication based, such as hydrotherapy or hypnobirthing.
Unless you choose to leave, you will remain in the comfort of your own home the entire time.
FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTER
You will most likely be attended by whichever midwife is on-call, and it may not be your primary.
Many birth centers work with an OB-GYN at a hospital in case any complications or emergencies arise.
Pain management options are mostly non-medication based, but may include nitrous oxide.
Your stay will most likely be less than 24 hours.
HOSPITAL
You will most likely be attended by whichever OB-GYN is on-call, and there is a strong likelihood it will not be your primary.
Emergency services are readily available.
Pain management options such as epidurals and narcotics are available in addition to non-medication based options.
You will most likely have a hospital stay of 1-3 days.
If you’re not quite sure which options are right for you, I recommend looking over Penny Simkin’s Pain Management Preference Scale and the Groopman Spectrum and deciding where you fall on both. For example, if you rate your pain medication preference as a +7 and you are more of a technologist with a maximalist mindset, you might be most comfortable seeing an OB-GYN at a hospital. However if you rate your pain medication preference as a -7 and you are more of a naturalist with a minimalist mindset, then a birth center or home birth attended by a midwife might be for you!
If you aren’t satisfied with your OB-GYN or midwife, it is never too late to find a new one. As intimidating as it is to search for a new healthcare provider mid- or late-pregnancy, your birth experience will be much better with someone you trust and are comfortable with. Your doula can help you begin your search.
If you’d like to chat more about your birth options, send me a message to set up a call or visit. I would love to hear from you!
