Any tips or advice? Home/hospital birth.

Question

So im wanting to do a home birth or at least go to a birthing center, but im on the fence due to what if theres an emergency. I live 30 minutes away from the "bandaid station" hospital closest to us. The hospital I'd rather go to, if i have to, is an hr and a half away. Does anyone have any tips, recommendations, or advice? This is my first pregnancy and im only 15 weeks, but worried the time is going by way to quick. I live along the Arkansas/Oklahoma border if location helps. Thank you so much everyone.

Answer

I have had 3 hospital births (2 different hospitals) and personally my experience was pretty much the same as my sister who used a birthing center. I had no medication, had a tub/could do a water birth, could walk around and eat whatever, labor/birth/deliver in any position I wanted, zero pushing for meds/assisted delivery, could play music or whatever i wanted. Only difference was I had a hospital and nicu around me. Which I am glad. My pregnancies have all been amazingly simple and perfect and super easy. I am about the lowest risk human ever with the easiest pregnancies. Had I given birth anywhere besides a hospital I could have died in my 1st labor. I had an almost immediate very very large and fast post partum hemorrhage right after I delivered the placenta. Had i not had an ob who actually helped develop the hemorrhage protocol for the hospital and knew immediately hoe bad it was when 99% of docs/midwives would not have seen the severity that soon I would have needed immediate blood transfusions to have been ok with how much blood I lost within 90 seconds. All docs and midwives can handle things like that but you never know when you will need more for you or baby. I was the definition of text book perfection pregnancy and still had an issue. So I'd say find a good hospital that will give you the best or closest to the best labor/delivery experience you want but has the care needed incase things go sideways. Even my sister who did a birthing center did the one literally next door to the hospital so if something happened it was a 90 second trip to the hospital. If you go home birth/birthing center ask alllllllllllllll the questions you can imagine and make sure you trust them 1000% as I know women with horror stories of people having people deliver their babies who very very much shouldn't have been even thought they were fully licensed. If they are annoyed by the questions they are the wrong place/person. With the distance though I'd at least say birthing center in a city with a hospital. If you live that far you have to take into account time for help to get to you then the time to get to the hospital which could be hours in your case. Thats a long time on the incredibly small chance something goes wrong. I'd rather be ok for the .5% chance something goes wrong than not be prepared when you need it I guess especially since you can have amazingly relaxed hospital births also.

Answer

I would 100% go to the hospital there are too many babies dying from at home births

Answer

Talk to home birth midwives in your area. See what their plans are in cases of emergency. 
Do the same for birth center.

Answer

I would 100% deliver in a hospital if at all possible. It is so likely everything will go right, but I'd like to make sure I'm in a place where emeegencies can be handled quickly in case something does not.

Answer

Where I live in Canada, midwives attending a home birth travel with "level 1" hospital equipment, which basically covers immediate emergencies (eg. Oxygen, fluids) before an ambulance arrives. Definitely inquire and ask alllll the questions at the clinic that would help ease any worries.  I had 4 home births myself and had amazing experiences! Watch the documentary "The Business of Being Born", I think it's on youtube still.

Answer

Here in the Netherlands both hospital birth and home birth are safe as in need a ambulance will be there within 10 min (within 45min in hospital). Home births are here normal/ common.

Any tips or advice? Home/hospital birth.

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