Is a birth centre delivery for you?

Is a birth centre delivery for you?



While the local maternity hospital is the most obvious option when choosing the place to give birth, there are many other options you may want to consider. If you are looking for a natural birth, free from pain relief drugs and interventions, then you may want to consider using a birth centre for your labour and birth.

Here’s all you need to know about birth centre births:

What is a birth centre?

Consider booking into a birth centre if you want a more ‘natural‘ birth - the philosophy is that birth is a normal process, avoiding medication and other inventions. Most birth centres are midwife-led and attached to a larger hospital, so you may be asked to choose between the labour ward and birth centre when confirming your pregnancy with your GP. Although epidurals, and other medication, aren’t available at a birth centre you can request to be transferred to a labour ward if you decide you want drugs as the birth progresses, if labour slows, or if mum or baby become distressed and complications arise.

What happens at a birth centre?

Birth centres are known for their continuity of care and are usually run by small teams of midwives who you’ll see during pre-natal visits, so you may well know the midwife that delivers your baby. Any woman, including first-time mums, can book into a birth centre, although midwives must predict that you’ll have a ‘normal’ labour that will reach full term. Birth centres are more homely than a hospital and there may be a double bed, where you and your partner can fall asleep post-birth with your new baby. While epidurals aren’t an option, there will be gas and air, along with natural pain relief options such as a hot tub for water births, a Tens machine, birthing balls and stools or complementary therapies.

What doesn’t happen at a birth centre?

A birth centre isn’t the place to go if you’re set on having an epidural or if you want a private obstetrician, although some private doctors will attend a birth centre birth, so check when choosing your carer. If a c-section becomes necessary, you’ll be transferred from the birth centre to the nearest hospital maternity unit. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to book into a birth centre if you’ve previously had a caesarean, have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or high blood pressure. At birth centres, no interventions, such as episiotomies or forceps or ventouse deliveries take place.

Are birth centres safe?

As most birth centres are attached to larger hospitals, they follow the same principals and medical policies as the main hospital, so are just as safe. Despite the lack of medical facilities, studies show that birth centres are just as safe as maternity hospitals. Also remember that the transfer rate from a birth centre to a labour ward is high – sometimes a third or a half of women transfer mid-labour – so doctors are always on hand should complications arise.

Find out more

Every birth centre will have different facilities – and a smaller suburban hospital may have a maternity unit that is very similar to a birth centre – so ask some questions before booking in. Queries might be whether they perform inductions, how long you can stay at the birth centre post-natally, whether there is any breastfeeding support and what pain relief options will be available. All birth centres also offer tours before your baby arrives, so have a look around before your due date to be absolutely sure you’re booked into the right place.

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This article was written by Joanna Bounds for Kidspot, Australia’s best family health resource. ‘family health’ .

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