| In general, your choice of where you | | | | is low. For women who have strong |
| deliver will be linked to your care | | | | preferences about the use of oxytocin or |
| provider. The majority of physicians | | | | continuous fetal monitoring delivery at |
| take care of women in a hospital | | | | a birthing center may increase their |
| setting, where most birth in the US take | | | | chances of avoiding these interventions, |
| place. Midwives also take care of women | | | | In addition, because epidural analgesia |
| in a hospital setting, although they | | | | is not usually available you are likely |
| also deliver babies in birthing center. | | | | to receive more intensive labor support |
| Hospital birth | | | | for your pain. While some believe that |
| There are three potential advantages to | | | | delivering 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 of | | | | cesarean delivery or episiotomy, your |
| women over 35 who require a cesarean | | | | care giver's practice style is probably |
| delivery, there will be no need for you | | | | a more important determinant than where |
| to be moved from home or the birthing | | | | you deliver. |
| center. Although most cesarean | | | | Getting The Most From Your Prenatal Care |
| deliveries are not urgent, in which case | | | | The most important principle in choosing |
| the delay will not cause you or your | | | | a care provider is to find someone you |
| baby any harm, in an obstetric | | | | feel comfortable with. Ask questions |
| emergencies, time can be of the essence. | | | | early on about things that are important |
| The second advantage is that you will | | | | to you for example, the rates of |
| have more pain control options. Although | | | | episiotomy, cesarean delivery, and |
| many first time mothers wish to avoid | | | | forceps or vacuum delivery. When |
| epidural analgesia, you may not know | | | | thinking about your care giver's |
| what type of pain relief you want until | | | | cesarean delivery rate, be aware that |
| you are actually in labor. If you are | | | | interpreting cesarean delivery rates is |
| highly motivate to avoid an epidural | | | | very complicated, even for statistical |
| analgesia, freestanding birthing centers | | | | experts. Physicians who care for higher |
| and home birth are geared toward | | | | risk patients are likely to have very |
| supporting you with out pain medicine. A | | | | high cesarean delivery rates, which are |
| third advantage is that a hospital birth | | | | explained by the high· risk nature of |
| may be safer if you have significant | | | | their patient population. However, in |
| medical problems such as diabetes or | | | | low-risk patients, recent studies |
| blood pressure problems, which may | | | | suggest that either too high or too low |
| affect you or your baby. It is also | | | | cesarean delivery rates may indicate a |
| safest to deliver in a hospital if | | | | problem. |
| you've' had a cesarean section | | | | Your care provider's philosophy about |
| previously, because of the small risk of | | | | pain control in labor is also important. |
| the uterus rupturing. | | | | Unless you share his or her view, avoid |
| Birthing center or home birth | | | | a care provider who has strong feelings |
| If you are having a normal, healthy | | | | about what type of pain control you |
| pregnancy, the risk to you and your baby | | | | should select in labor. |
| of delivering in an alternative setting | | | | |