Home Birth or Birth Center Birth?

So many people are looking at out of hospital births now.

I mean I get it. If I was pregnant, I would be choosing an out of hospital birth as well. The restrictions in hospitals currently, albeit I can understand why they have them, wouldn’t be conducive to being as supported as I would need to be while birthing a baby. And I know that goes for many others as well.

So I want to go over a few pros and cons of having an out of hospital birth at both a birth center and if you chose to birth at home. Just food for thought to make sure you’re making the right choice for you and your family.

Birth Center

Pros:

1. Most of them look like they came straight out of a 5 star resort. I mean GORGEOUS.

2. If you have kids and choose not to bring them, you can still have all the comforts of a home birth, while not being at home and being bothered. In the sense that you’re removed from your “responsibilities” and can just focus on birthing a baby.

3. You still have all the comforts of a home birth. Kitchen, tub (typically a very large tub), couches, beds, etc.

4. Many birth centers are still allowing multiple support people to attend your birth even with the virus restrictions. But you’ll need to talk to your midwife/birth team about any limitations.

Cons:

1. You have to go home a few hours after giving birth.

2. Many insurance companies won’t cover birth center births. Almost all PPO’s will though.

home birth

Pros:

1. It’s YOUR home. It’s where you feel most comfortable.

2. You don’t have to get into a car while in labor.

3. You don’t have to get into a car after you just pushed a baby out of your body. You can literally just crawl into bed (if you gave birth in bed, your birth team will change your sheets) and snuggle up and take a nap.

4. Your birth team will clean up your house. No one will even know you gave birth there other than the gorgeous photos you’ll have from your birth photographer and the new baby in your arms!

5. Many home birth midwives are still allowing multiple support people to attend your birth even with the virus restrictions. But you’ll need to talk to your midwife/birth team about any limitations.

Cons:

1. If you have children at home, you won’t be able to “escape.” And I mean that in the nicest way possible. Sometimes we can’t disconnect from taking care of our other littles, that we get so focused on them instead of laboring and allowing the hormones to do their thing. It can actually be a hindrance sometimes (emphasis on some times, I’ve also seen people birth their baby with full support of their other children with no problems what so ever). This is just something to be mindful of.

2. Your birth team leaves a few hours after your baby is born.

3. Many insurance companies won’t cover home births. Almost all PPO’s will though.

at the end of the day

You should do what is best for your family (I know, duh. But we still need a reminder). It’s the same advice I give to all of my clients and any new parents I meet: take what everyone says and put it in a box, sift through all of it, and then choose whatever works for your family 💕