Take good care of your baby


Choosing Where to Deliver-pregnancy

In general, your choice of where youis low. For women who have strong
deliver will be linked to your carepreferences about the use of oxytocin or
provider. The majority of physicianscontinuous fetal monitoring delivery at
take care of women in a hospitala birthing center may increase their
setting, where most birth in the US takechances of avoiding these interventions,
place. Midwives also take care of womenIn addition, because epidural analgesia
in a hospital setting, although theyis not usually available you are likely
also deliver babies in birthing center.to receive more intensive labor support
Hospital birthfor your pain. While some believe that
There are three potential advantages todelivering in a frec standing birthing
choosing deliver in a hospital. First,center will reduce your likelihood of a
if you are among the 30-40 percent ofcesarean delivery or episiotomy, your
women over 35 who require a cesareancare giver's practice style is probably
delivery, there will be no need for youa more important determinant than where
to be moved from home or the birthingyou deliver.
center. Although most cesareanGetting The Most From Your Prenatal Care
deliveries are not urgent, in which caseThe most important principle in choosing
the delay will not cause you or youra care provider is to find someone you
baby any harm, in an obstetricfeel comfortable with. Ask questions
emergencies, time can be of the essence.early on about things that are important
The second advantage is that you willto you for example, the rates of
have more pain control options. Althoughepisiotomy, cesarean delivery, and
many first time mothers wish to avoidforceps or vacuum delivery. When
epidural analgesia, you may not knowthinking about your care giver's
what type of pain relief you want untilcesarean delivery rate, be aware that
you are actually in labor. If you areinterpreting cesarean delivery rates is
highly motivate to avoid an epiduralvery complicated, even for statistical
analgesia, freestanding birthing centersexperts. Physicians who care for higher
and home birth are geared towardrisk patients are likely to have very
supporting you with out pain medicine. Ahigh cesarean delivery rates, which are
third advantage is that a hospital birthexplained by the high· risk nature of
may be safer if you have significanttheir patient population. However, in
medical problems such as diabetes orlow-risk patients, recent studies
blood pressure problems, which maysuggest that either too high or too low
affect you or your baby. It is alsocesarean delivery rates may indicate a
safest to deliver in a hospital ifproblem.
you've' had a cesarean sectionYour care provider's philosophy about
previously, because of the small risk ofpain control in labor is also important.
the uterus rupturing.Unless you share his or her view, avoid
Birthing center or home birtha care provider who has strong feelings
If you are having a normal, healthyabout what type of pain control you
pregnancy, the risk to you and your babyshould select in labor.
of delivering in an alternative setting



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