| In general, your choice of where you deliver will be | | | | setting is low. For women who have strong |
| linked to your care provider. The majority of physicians | | | | preferences about the use of oxytocin or continuous |
| take care of women in a hospital setting, where most | | | | fetal monitoring delivery at a birthing center may |
| birth in the US take place. Midwives also take care of | | | | increase their chances of avoiding these interventions, |
| women in a hospital setting, although they also deliver | | | | In addition, because epidural analgesia is not usually |
| babies in birthing center. | | | | available you are likely to receive more intensive labor |
| Hospital birth | | | | support for your pain. While some believe that |
| There are three potential advantages to choosing | | | | delivering in a frec standing birthing center will reduce |
| deliver in a hospital. First, if you are among the 30-40 | | | | your likelihood of a cesarean delivery or episiotomy, |
| percent of women over 35 who require a cesarean | | | | your care giver's practice style is probably a more |
| delivery, there will be no need for you to be moved | | | | important determinant than where you deliver. |
| from home or the birthing center. Although most | | | | Getting The Most From Your Prenatal Care |
| cesarean deliveries are not urgent, in which case the | | | | The most important principle in choosing a care |
| delay will not cause you or your baby any harm, in an | | | | provider is to find someone you feel comfortable with. |
| obstetric emergencies, time can be of the essence. | | | | Ask questions early on about things that are important |
| The second advantage is that you will have more pain | | | | to you for example, the rates of episiotomy, cesarean |
| control options. Although many first time mothers wish | | | | delivery, and forceps or vacuum delivery. When |
| to avoid epidural analgesia, you may not know what | | | | thinking about your care giver's cesarean delivery rate, |
| type of pain relief you want until you are actually in | | | | be aware that interpreting cesarean delivery rates is |
| labor. If you are highly motivate to avoid an epidural | | | | very complicated, even for statistical experts. |
| analgesia, freestanding birthing centers and home birth | | | | Physicians who care for higher risk patients are likely |
| are geared toward supporting you with out pain | | | | to have very high cesarean delivery rates, which are |
| medicine. A third advantage is that a hospital birth may | | | | explained by the high· risk nature of their patient |
| be safer if you have significant medical problems such | | | | population. However, in low-risk patients, recent studies |
| as diabetes or blood pressure problems, which may | | | | suggest that either too high or too low cesarean |
| affect you or your baby. It is also safest to deliver in a | | | | delivery rates may indicate a problem. |
| hospital if you've' had a cesarean section previously, | | | | Your care provider's philosophy about pain control in |
| because of the small risk of the uterus rupturing. | | | | labor is also important. Unless you share his or her |
| Birthing center or home birth | | | | view, avoid a care provider who has strong feelings |
| If you are having a normal, healthy pregnancy, the risk | | | | about what type of pain control you should select in |
| to you and your baby of delivering in an alternative | | | | labor. |