Hospital / Birthing centre?

[DjF]

What is the difference between a Birthing Center and Delivery suite/ Maternity ward - if they are at the same place? (ie Hospital). Apart from the 'decor'?

[the_queen]

I think the main difference is the availability of certain pharamacological pain relief.

ie if you want the strong drugs, you have to be in the labour ward :D

And I think the "birthing centre", even though it is technically part of the hospital, tends to be as "home-like" as possible. More natural, less medical intervention, etc.

[mummycloud]

Birthcentres are run by midwives and is set up in a more homely type decore. You get to know the midwives as that's where you have your prenatal care, rather than with an OB.
They offer alternative pain relief, ie; water, massage, aromatherapy etc and are supposed to follow your birth plan if you have one.
If you decide to have an Epidural, they move you to a ward like they would if there's a complication which needs medical intervention.

If you like the idea of a natural childbirth in a home setting, you're better off having an actual homebirth ;) a birthcentre is still a hospital!

[angel_one]

If you like the idea of a natural childbirth in a home setting, you're better off having an actual homebirth ;) a birthcentre is still a hospital!

hey im all for the natural childbirth, in a home setting, i did so with my last 2 kids, however i am soooooo thankfull i had then at a birthcentre, as my 2nd born had to be rushed over to the nicu, as he was showing signs of an infection and had a little bit of breathing problems, and if i was at home he wouldnt have been able to get the care he needed as soon as he did. And as i also had to sent over to the hospital so that they could monitor my fever, i am happy that we were close enough that if something really serious had happen the proper medical facilities were less than a minute away!

[Kewe]

hey im all for the natural childbirth, in a home setting, i did so with my last 2 kids, however i am soooooo thankfull i had then at a birthcentre, as my 2nd born had to be rushed over to the nicu, as he was showing signs of an infection and had a little bit of breathing problems, and if i was at home he wouldnt have been able to get the care he needed as soon as he did. And as i also had to sent over to the hospital so that they could monitor my fever, i am happy that we were close enough that if something really serious had happen the proper medical facilities were less than a minute away!


I second what angel said, I had my boy at a birth centre but mine was alot further away from the hosp, (like a 20min drive away) I would've loved to have the hospital closer for the abover reasons (not that anything did happen) but it is very reasuring to have everything close by just incase,

most woman have better labours when in a relaxed atmosphere, there are usually less problems and due to stress of bub and tearint, my next birth is going to be in the birth centre here, i can't wait, its the next best thing to having a home birth